In the battle against tooth decay and tooth infections , the adequate use of dental floss undoubtedly helps to preserve the full health of the teeth , by deeply removing food residues and the sticky layer of plaque wedged between the various dental elements.
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Dental floss must always be used in combination with a toothbrush , toothpaste and mouthwash , other very important (and irreplaceable) home dental hygiene tools.
When to use it?
It is well known that dental floss should be used at least once a day and preferably in the evening. What still raises some perplexity is when to use it. In this regard, the thought of the experts is divided into two:
- Some authors recommend passing the floss between the teeth before brushing with a toothbrush and toothpaste: the floss, by removing plaque and food residues nestled between the teeth, allows the active ingredients of the toothpaste (e.g. fluoride or whitening agents ) to reach even the interdental fissures.
- Other specialists suggest using the floss only after brushing your teeth: in doing so, starting from the assumption that the toothbrush has already removed a certain amount of dirt, the action of the dental floss is facilitated.
In any case, what really matters is not so much the use of dental floss before or after cleaning with a toothbrush, but rather an adequate method of use and a constant use of the same. So let’s see how to use dental floss correctly.
How to use?
To show off an enviable smile and healthy and strong teeth, it is important – as well as indispensable – to dedicate a few minutes of your time to cleaning your teeth every day and several times a day . If the toothbrush should be used at least three times a day and immediately after meals, the dental floss can also be passed between the teeth only once or twice during the day.
It is good to reiterate it once again: what is important is to use the thread regularly and properly.
Below are the main rules for flawless use of dental floss in points:
- Cut a segment of dental floss (with the aid of the special file inserted in the spool container) of a length of 30-40 cm.
- Wrap both ends of the floss around your middle finger (two wraps are recommended), gripping the taut floss with your thumbs and forefingers.
- Gently press the floss on the thin interdental fissure, taking care to keep it taut and firmly.
- Subsequently, embrace the tooth with the floss forming a sort of C. Slide the floss downwards (towards the crown end of the tooth), always applying a certain friction until the tooth is cleaned even below the gumline. In doing so, the floss acts like a blade, “cutting” and removing plaque.
The movement must be decisive but at the same time delicate to avoid damaging or irritating the gum. We also remind you that every time you insert the floss into an interdental space, there are two surfaces to clean; therefore, it is necessary to pass the thread in both parts.
- Whenever floss is pulled out to clean the next tooth, a clean section of the tape must be used.
- Repeat the procedure in all teeth. It is suggested that you begin flossing with the back teeth, ending with the molars on the opposite side.
- The back teeth (first and second molars and, if present, wisdom teeth) can cause some difficulty when flossing. If cleaning is particularly complicated due, for example, to dental crowding or crooked teeth , it is possible to resort to the aid of different tools – such as the thread-stretcher forks or vibrating dental floss – which make the maneuver easier.
After cleaning all the teeth with dental floss, it is suggested to rinse the mouth thoroughly with mouthwash, preferably enriched in fluoride. Mouthwash, in addition to freshening the mouth, improving breath and strengthening dental enamel , helps eliminate plaque or food fragments removed with the floss.
Inappropriate use
Inadequate use or failure to use dental floss can put your teeth at risk . What has been said seems to still be underestimated: the use of this very important tool for dental hygiene does not seem to be part of Italian customs. Let us therefore try to promote the use of dental floss, putting on paper the risks and complications that could be encountered by not using this effective dental aid.
First of all, a lack of use of dental floss encourages the stagnation of plaque in spaces inaccessible to the manual toothbrush; over time, plaque deposits evolve, turning into real tartar encrustations that can only be removed by professional dental cleaning . Let us briefly recall that plaque and tartar, by retaining numerous germs of the oral bacterial flora , enormously predispose to the risk of dental infections, first of all caries . Don’t forget, however, that plaque not removed by brushing and flossing is also responsible for bad breath .gingivitis and bleeding gums .
Inadequate cleaning of the oral cavity → plaque deposits → tartar formation → dental infections: caries, pulpitis, abscess , cyst , granuloma, etc.
An inadequate use of dental floss , especially if hasty, is equally imprudent not only because the dirt trapped between the teeth is not effectively removed, but also because there is the risk of inflaming or traumatizing the gums.
Dental floss that repeatedly breaks in a certain point is an alarm bell, probable index of caries, accumulation of tartar or an overflowing filling .
Indications and Contraindications
To obtain effective feedback, it is advisable to start using dental floss not before the age of 10, or in any case after the milk teeth have fallen out and been replaced with permanent ones.
The regular use of dental floss is a dental aid recommended for practically everyone, except for those patients who have particular anatomical dental impediments. For example, the use of traditional floss is not indicated in the presence of particularly narrow interdental spaces: in such situations, excessive pressure exerted on the floss could traumatize the gums, causing injuries or small wounds. In this case, the use of a particularly delicate dental floss (e.g. gum massagers) is recommended.
Furthermore, the use of dental floss is not recommended in the period immediately following the extraction of a tooth : in fact, in the first 5-7 days following the intervention, the area in which the tooth was removed is particularly sensitive, swollen and painful ; therefore, it is not recommended to use dental floss to remove dirt in the teeth near the extraction site.
