Flossing

Flossing must be a regular part of your oral hygiene routine.

You miss nearly 40% of the tooth surface if you don’t floss!  Use these tips to help you get the best results

• most people find it easiest to floss in front of the mirror
• break off about 30cm of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers
• wind the remaining floss around the same finger on the other hand.  This finger will wind up the floss as it becomes dirty
• Hold the floss tightly between your thumb and forefingers.  Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion (never snap the floss into the gums)
• when the floss reaches the gum lin, curve it into a ‘c’ shape against the one tooth.  Floss away from the gum with back and forth motions
• repeat this on EVERY tooth

If you are having difficulty flossing, ask your dentist to give you a demonstration or to show you other techniques on how to floss properly.