Dental floss has been available since 1815, when a New Orleans dentist began to use silk thread to clean between his patients' teeth. Silk dental floss was widely marketed during the late 19th century, and was replaced by nylon dental floss in the 1940s. Since then, waxed nylon floss, dental tape and Gore-Tex floss have become available, relates the Oral B website.
Types
You can choose from three types of flossing products. Traditional dental floss consists of a roll of synthetic filament that may be waxed or flavored. Dental tape is similar to traditional dental floss, but may be easier on your gums. Battery-operated dental flossers perform the same function as traditional floss. Finally, if you have dentures or capped teeth, you can use a floss threader. Threaders guide the floss between your teeth and under bridge work.
Significance
When you brush your teeth, you're able to clean virtually every surface except the spaces between the teeth. When you use dental floss in these tightly-packed crannies, you're interrupting the build-up of plaque within your mouth. Plaque, which is composed of food remnants and bacteria, can harden and turn into tartar that destroys tooth bone and eats away your gums. Regular flossing short circuits that destructive process.
Procedure
To floss your teeth, the American Dental Association recommends that you break off about 18 inches of floss from the roll. Wind the floss around the middle fingers of each hand. Hold the floss tightly between your forefingers and thumbs, and gently slide it between your teeth.
When you reach the line where the gum meets the tooth, carefully curve the floss into a "C" shape against the tooth. Slide the floss between the gum and tooth, and rub the floss against the tooth with a gentle "up and down" motion. Repeat for each tooth.
Benefits
You'll receive four major benefits from flossing your teeth. Flossing removes plaque from spaces between the teeth, resulting in fewer potential problems for those areas. You'll also benefit from better breath because those substances are removed. Flossing helps polish your tooth surfaces as well. Finally, regular flossing reduces the potential for gum disease resulting from poor dental care.
Considerations
If you don't think you have proper manual dexterity for flossing, use a battery-powered automatic flosser. This little device uses a very thin, replaceable nylon filament tip. If your teeth are too tightly packed to use traditional dental floss, the flosser can assist you as well. Regardless of your floss, make sure you gently slide the floss between teeth and gums. If you use a sawing motion, you may cause gum damage.
References
- Oral B: The History of Dental Floss
- Family Gentle Dental Care: Types of Dental Floss
- Perfect Smile Dental Care: Frequently Asked Questions: Why Is It Important to Use Dental Floss?
- Perfect Smile Dental Care: Frequently Asked Questions: How to Floss Properly
- Family Gentle Dental Care: Benefits of Flossing
