Floss before or after. Rules for the use of a floss for cleaning teeth. Advantages and disadvantages

Among the care products oral cavity dental floss or special threads have appeared quite recently. The need for their use is often questioned by the townsfolk. Why do you need dental floss at all, if you already brush your teeth several times daily and several times with a good brush and expensive toothpaste? Moreover, use a high-quality rinse aid for complete cleaning ... It turns out that there is a need. And dentists regularly remind about her.

Do I need dental floss

When brushing your teeth, you can remove soft plaque from three sides of each molar - the front, back, and top. But the interdental spaces remain inaccessible to you. When food gets stuck in them, you can somehow cope with it with a toothpick (by the way, they are strongly discouraged by dentists because of the risk of damage to the gums and enamel). But what to do with plaque?

No rinse aid can cope with soft deposits, since mechanical action is required. An irrigator, a device that supplies water under pressure, becomes a definite way out of the situation. But its effectiveness is largely exaggerated, and a stream of water simply will not penetrate into the narrowest interdental space. Therefore, the only correct solution for cleaning the hidden surfaces of teeth is flossing - that is, cleaning them with dental floss.

Types of floss

On the market there are different kinds floss of both decent and dubious quality. We recommend purchasing only those offered by reputable manufacturers. High quality dental floss made from thin synthetic threads - usually nylon or Teflon. The structure of one thread can contain many fibers, which reduces the likelihood of injury to the gums, or one dense fiber.

Flosses are flat and round in shape. The former may even seem "flattened" - this is how dental tape looks like, that is, a floss designed to clean a very narrow interdental space. Additionally, flosses are treated with special impregnations, their surface is waxed. This provides, firstly, the ease of sliding of the thread in the interdental space. And secondly, it brings additional therapeutic effect... For example, leading manufacturers apply a fluorine compound to the surface of floss. It additionally strengthens the enamel.

In addition to the usual thread, there are "improved" ones. These include a flossstick (or flosset) - a thread on an individual plastic holder, thanks to which there is no need to wind it around your fingers. By holding the handle, you can quickly clean all interdental spaces.

There are also special threads for people wearing braces, prostheses or implants. To remove food debris from under their structural elements, the floss is equipped with a rigid tip that allows you to bring it where you need it.

Features of use

The question of how to properly use dental floss is no less important than the fact of its application. The fact is that if used incorrectly, the accessory will not only fail to provide the expected impact, but also cause injury to the gums... Therefore, when using floss, it is impossible to make significant efforts, and when blood appears from the gums, be sure to stop the procedure, rinse your mouth with warm salt water and continue only after the bleeding has stopped.

The technique of proper dental flossing is as follows.

Take a thread about 40 cm long. Why so many? - you ask? Because this procedure is hygienic, and a clean piece of floss must be used to clean each interdental space. A 40 cm thread is just enough to clean the entire oral cavity.
Twist the thread twice on the middle finger. right hand... Leave the index free to make it easier to control the process. On left hand wind the thread so that the central piece is 8-10 cm long.
Start cleaning with upper teeth: Gently insert the floss into the interdental space of the anterior molars. Run it all the way to the gum, but do not apply pressure. Press the floss to the surface of one tooth and run down and up 5-7 times. Now press it against the surface of the other tooth and make the same number of gentle movements.
Remove the floss from this gap, wind the used area around the finger of your right hand.
Insert clean thread into the next space and repeat the movements again.

This is an example of how to floss. The photos of our review will demonstrate the technology clearly.

How often do you floss? Ideally, this should be done after every meal, especially if you feel food bits between your teeth. If it is impossible to do this, in mandatory perform a full cleanse in the evening before bed. It is convenient to first brush your teeth with a brush, then floss, and only then rinse with a special balm.

Oral hygiene is a must healthy teeth, fresh breath and excellent smile.
Here, in addition to the toothbrush, rinse aid comes to the rescue, chewing gum and dental floss. Today we will talk about dental floss.

How to use it correctly? Which one is better to buy? What do you need to pay attention to?

Dental floss or floss is an essential hygiene accessory along with a toothbrush... Many people believe that the thread is needed only in isolated cases, when food debris gets stuck between the teeth. This is a misconception.

Every human tooth has five surface layers. The toothbrush can thoroughly clean only three of them. The other two are hard to reach. That's why floss was invented. It easily penetrates between the teeth into the most difficult places.

Cleaning up food debris in hard-to-reach places prevents tooth decay, dental plaque and bad smell from the oral cavity. This is the main task of dental floss. Dentists recommend using it regularly.

Some argue that you need to resort to flossing every time you eat. Others say that one or two times a day is enough. How many times should you floss the spaces between your teeth? You decide.

This should be done at least once a day. If you have strong gums, do it more often. For people with sensitive gums, once is sufficient.

There are all kinds of dental floss... They can be completely thin and standard, round and flat, waxed or without wax treatment, with medicinal impregnation, as well as with the addition of aromatic flavors (propolis, strawberry, menthol, cherry and others) or herbal decoctions.

When choosing a thread for yourself, you need to take into account several factors. For beginners, it is better to take floss soaked in wax. If the gaps between the teeth are large, a round thread will do. Otherwise, buy a flat one.

Dental flosses are sold in pharmacies. They are housed in special boxes that also have a cutter. You can buy ready-made floss pieces - pieces in individual packages. It is convenient to carry them with you.

Let's give an example flossing algorithm:

1. You need to take a floss with a length of at least thirty centimeters: do not spare the thread, take enough... It is not worth saving, because every tooth needs a clean section.

2. Floss is wound on the middle fingers: they only fix it on the right finger, then leave a space of ten centimeters, the rest is wound on the finger of the left hand.

3. After winding, the thread is fixed between thumb and the index of both hands.

4. You can start the cleansing procedure: floss is introduced into the space between the teeth, reaching the gum itself, and begin to clean with movements up - down and back - forward.

5. For maximum effect It is recommended to keep the dental floss at an angle of 45 degrees.

6. After cleaning one tooth, the used section of the thread is wound around the finger of the right hand. In the meantime, a clean piece is unwound from the left one and proceeds to the next tooth. All teeth are cleaned in this way.

Important: Discard the thread after a single use. Don't be greedy and don't save. After all, bacteria remain on the used dental floss, which will then get back onto your teeth.

The second point is that you need to carefully conduct the cleaning process with floss. After all, you can damage the gums and then bleeding will begin. Be very careful at the very root of the tooth.

The use of dental floss by young children is encouraged. You can start no earlier than nine years... At this age, the child clearly feels his strength and will try not to harm himself.

Children can use the floss under supervision and guidance from an adult to minimize injury.

There are also prohibitions on the use of dental floss: great sensitivity of teeth and gums, gum disease.

Consider a few facts that dispel all dental floss myths.

At first, it is able to get rid of an unpleasant odor only if this is a consequence of the accumulation of food debris, and not other diseases.

Secondly, floss is not able to harm the tooth enamel. Its structure is the same as that of the fibers of a toothbrush.

Take care of your mouth. Brush your teeth twice a day, use floss and other aids.

Thanks to elementary procedures, you will rarely visit the dentist.

There is an expression "naturally, how to brush your teeth." They say that brushing your teeth is by default so commonplace that it can serve as the standard of the norm. But this applies to a toothbrush and toothpaste, but not everyone is accustomed to using dental floss. Surely many did not even think about how to properly use dental floss and did not even hold it in their hands, choosing more familiar devices for oral hygiene in the store. Although in many situations, using dental floss is just easier than fiddling with a brush.

And if you decide to take care of your dental health, then we advise you to learn how to use dental floss correctly. Believe me, it won't take long, but it will bring huge benefit not only for teeth and gums, but for the whole body. Moreover, even braces will not become an obstacle: you can and should use dental floss with braces, and we will also gladly talk about this in this article.

What is dental floss? Why use dental floss?
A toothbrush is indispensable, but not perfect. The design of the brush, conventional or advanced, traditional mechanical or modern electric, allows only a part of the surface of each tooth (top, outside and inside) to be treated. At the same time, pieces of food stuck between the teeth almost always remain there, and you have to remove them with toothpicks or other, no less traumatic ways. So dental floss, or floss, is not a replacement or alternative to a toothbrush, but an additional device that allows you to achieve a cleaner oral cavity. In addition, it is much more convenient to carry dental floss with you and use it outside the home.

Typically, dental floss is packaged in a small case that fits easily into a small cosmetic bag or even in a pocket. Inside the case, the floss is rolled up in a tight roll, and at the exit from the case there is a small cutter that separates the amount of thread you need. For better cleaning of the interdental spaces, dental floss of different diameters and different shapes in section:

Round floss is suitable for normal and wider spaces between teeth.
Flat floss is designed for narrower spaces between small and / or tightly pressed teeth.
Dental floss, which changes volume when wet, is thin in the package, but becomes wider when it is wetted by saliva in the mouth.

This variety of configurations applies to synthetic dental floss: nylon, acetate, Teflon and nylon. But earlier, and sometimes still, dental floss was made from natural silk. Regardless of the material, dental floss can be impregnated with nothing or have additional impregnation:

Waxed dental floss, due to the surface covered with wax, more easily penetrates between the teeth and glides without injuring the gums.
Menthol dental floss like Toothpaste or chewing gum, freshens breath and leaves a pleasant aftertaste in the mouth.
Fluoridated dental floss helps prevent tooth decay and strengthens tooth enamel in the most vulnerable places.

As you can see, dental floss is a rather complex device, and in order to use dental floss correctly, you must first choose the right dental floss. If you've never used floss before, buy dental floss covered in wax. This will protect you from the risk of the thread getting caught between your teeth.

How to brush your teeth and use dental floss
The use of dental floss requires a certain skill, time and privacy, it cannot be "discreetly" cleaned teeth like a toothpick. But on the other hand, it cleans much better, and even with a menthol taste, it does not irritate digestive system like chewing gum. And it is not difficult to master the use of dental floss:
Those who are just starting to use dental floss often complain of bleeding gums. In general, this is not a disaster yet, but you need to pay attention and determine the cause of the bleeding. On the one hand, it can be a sloppy and rough application of dental floss, which you simply cut yourself with. On the other hand, out of habit, the gums react in this way to a new load for them. If you notice such a problem, do not refuse to brush with dental floss, but in the coming days, use it with extreme caution and observe the reaction of the body.

How often do you floss?
Learning to floss is not that difficult - the main thing is not to forget about it and apply it regularly. And this question is also asked by beginners: how often can and should you use dental floss? First, as we have already found out, dental floss does not replace a toothbrush, which means it does not eliminate the need to brush your teeth with toothpaste in the morning and in the evening. Secondly, there are clearly defined rules for using dental floss:

Floss is used every day because food particles get stuck and plaque builds up in the interdental spaces every day.
It is advisable to use dental floss after every meal. With such regularity, you will soon feel and even visually notice a positive result.
If during the day you are unable or unwilling to floss, floss at least once a day, in the evening, after brushing your teeth normally.
To get used to using dental floss, choose floss that tastes good. As for the wax coating, after starting to use waxed dental floss, eventually switch to non-waxed one. It does not glide as smoothly, but it cleans much better.

How to properly floss with braces

There are many restrictions on wearing braces. In particular, there is a stereotype that it is impossible and even forbidden to floss teeth with braces. In fact, it is quite possible, and even recommended by dentists. After all, pieces of food additionally get stuck not only between the teeth, but also under the braces, which should not be allowed. To use dental floss with braces, you will have to try:

Unwind and cut off the required amount of floss.
One end of the segment is on the index finger, and the other, the free end, pass between the gum and the bracket.
With your other hand, grasp the end of the floss and pull gently to clear the space between your teeth.
To floss all your teeth, you will need to remove the floss and re-thread it under the base of the bracket each time.
The main thing in this process is not to rush so as not to damage either the gums or the braces. It is advisable to do the cleaning at home or at least in a calm environment.

There are special dental floss for those who wear braces. If you don't find such flosses, ordinary ones, but waxed ones, will do. There are also floss for children, but if your child wears braces and wants to floss, help him with this or be there and watch his actions.

Flossing is correct and necessary, albeit unusual. But once you start, you will soon get used to it, and flossing will become as normal for you as it is. Toothbrush... Moreover, the sooner you start using dental floss, the better for maintaining the integrity and whiteness of the tooth enamel, because it suffers most of all precisely in the places where the teeth meet. health and a dazzling smile!

Dental floss, or floss, is a dental care tool that does a job that is too tough for a regular toothbrush.

It is designed to remove food fragments and plaque from the so-called. approximal surfaces, namely the interdental spaces. Even the thinnest bristles of a toothbrush cannot clean them effectively.

The accumulation of plaque on the proximal surfaces is fraught with the development of caries. Therefore, dental floss is not a cosmetic accessory that can be neglected, but a necessary component of oral hygiene along with toothpaste.

As well as positive feedback About dental floss on the Web, you can also find information about the dangers of this dental accessory.

Dental floss can injure your gums. The structure of the thread can actually injure the delicate gum tissue, resulting in inflammation and then infection. But with proper use of floss, the risk of cutting yourself is minimized. And you can scratch your gums with an ordinary brush, if you approach the process of brushing your teeth with fanaticism.
Long-term use of dental floss leads to grinding of the enamel on the walls of the teeth in the treated areas. Enamel is a natural "armor" of the tooth, and its damage leads to the formation of caries. The results of a number of independent studies have shown that the speed of grinding the enamel layer of teeth does not depend in any way on the frequency of flossing. The material from which it is made, in terms of hardness, is not higher than the bristles of a toothbrush, and it is clearly not the enemy of enamel.
Dental floss removes bad smell from mouth. If amber is associated with the decomposition of food fragments in the interdental spaces, then floss can really get rid of this trouble by eliminating them. But the accumulation of bits of food is just one of the causes of bad breath. Dental floss does not cure dental infections; it is a hygiene product. Therefore, if the smell remains after the use of dental floss, the reason must be sought not between the teeth, but inside the body.
It is better to use a floss once a day, when brushing your teeth in the evening. How often to use floss is a purely individual matter. Dentists recommend flossing the interdental spaces at least once a day, in the evening, removing food particles that have accumulated throughout the day. But the maximum effect from the use of floss can be achieved if you use it after each meal, and not "wear" the resulting plaque until the evening.

Varieties

Traditionally, floss is a plastic spool in which a roll of filament itself is enclosed.

This reel is equipped with a mini cutter for easy separation of the required amount.

The raw materials for the manufacture of floss can be:

natural silk;
synthetic fibers (most often nylon and nylon are used).

Waxed or unwaxed? What type of dental floss should you choose?

To a greater extent, the efficiency of using dental floss does not depend on the material from which it is made, but on the method of its processing. There are waxed and non-waxed flosses.

Waxed Due to the impregnation with wax, dental floss acquires an integral structure and does not disintegrate into individual fibers during use. The impregnation also increases the sliding properties of the thread, so it can easily enter even very narrow interdental spaces. Waxed floss is more elastic and with its use there is a risk of injury soft tissue jaw below.

But have unwaxed dental floss also has an advantage - splitting into separate fragments during the cleaning process, it increases the area of contact with the tooth surface. Therefore, the procedure time is reduced, and the effectiveness of unwaxed floss is slightly higher than its waxed "brother".

Dentists recommend waxed dental floss for children, as well as anyone who is just starting to use this hygiene accessory. "Having filled your hand" while brushing your teeth with a waxed thread, you can switch to unwaxed.

Round or flat? Classification by section type

By the type of cross-section, dental floss is divided into 5 types:

round(convenient for cleaning wide interdental spaces);
flat(effective for the care of crowded teeth);
tape(recommended in the presence of dental diastemas); volumetric (swell under the influence of saliva, increasing in volume and more effectively cleaning the interdental spaces);
combined containing plots different types section.

In pharmacies and on store shelves, you can also find dental floss with aromatic impregnation, which, in parallel with the main function, also act as fragrances.

Menthol impregnation provides pleasant breath, and fluoride, among other things, strengthens the gums. Flavored dental floss is a good alternative to chewing gum.

What ? Forms and symptoms of the disease, as well as recommendations for effective treatment at home.

Find out what you can do at home for gum disease.

How to floss properly?

Unwind at least 20 cm of thread (it is better to take with a margin);
wrap the ends around the middle fingers of your right and left hand;
pull the thread using your thumbs or forefingers;
place the floss in the interdental space, moving it in a zigzag manner. Try not to let the floss touch the gums;
wrap the floss around the base of the tooth in a “C” shape without joining both ends or forming a loop.
gently move the thread from the base to the top of the tooth, without making any sudden movements;
having cleared one interdental space, go to the second.

Only a clean section of floss should be used for each tooth. To do this, unwind a piece of floss from the left finger by winding an additional one onto the right.

It is for this that you need to take at least 20 cm of thread, so that there is enough for the entire oral cavity. For maximum effect, you need to make at least seven movements per tooth.

Cleaning the interdental spaces with floss on the upper and lower jaw- the process is long, so many people practice selective cleaning, stopping at especially large intervals.

But do not forget that plaque can also accumulate between tightly fitting teeth. Therefore, at the end of the day, you should devote time to cleaning all the gaps.

Video on how to use dental floss correctly:

Despite all the advantages of dental floss, it should not be considered as an alternative to a good old toothbrush. Combining these oral care products will maximize their effectiveness and successfully prevent tooth decay.

This article will tell you about the benefits of flossing your mouth and how to floss.

What is dental floss - floss, disposable dental floss, what it looks like: photo

Dental floss is essential for cleaning teeth where no brush can. She is able to penetrate into any crevices and spaces between the teeth, taking out all food debris. Floss is another, medical name for dental floss.

Flosses are divided into the following types:

With waxed thread(it is easier for them to penetrate any hard to reach place, but the nick is easily and quickly torn during cleaning).
With unwaxed thread(gives a weak frictional force)
With synthetic thread(elastic and durable)
With silk thread(has high strength and rarely breaks).

IMPORTANT: Any floss thread is impregnated with a special substance that makes it easier to slide on the tooth enamel.

In pharmacies, as well as stores with household and cosmetics you can buy these types of dental floss:

Round dental floss(ideal for those teeth that have wide spaces and large gaps).
Flat floss(suitable for cleaning those teeth, the space between which is too narrow).
Tape floss(differ in that they are able to swell on contact with saliva).
Bulk dental floss(suitable for gentle cleaning, especially if there are wide gaps between the teeth).

Modern manufacturers often impregnate floss with some kind of aromatic, or medicinal composition... Most often it is fluoride (to strengthen the enamel), menthol (to fresh smell) other. Regular use of the thread (both during brushing and after eating) helps prevent the occurrence of many diseases of the teeth and gums.

A floss brush is also a type of dental floss. It is intended for cleaning only the interdental space. It looks quite primitive - a handle with a stretched piece of thread. The most popular type of such floss is tape. It looks like a small box with a lid, which contains a spool of 50 meters of thread.

Why use dental floss? Contraindications to the use of dental floss

It is important to know when it is categorically impossible to use a thread:

In the presence of periodontal disease(this way you can spread the infection from a sick tooth to a healthy one).
If there is a carious hollow(so as not to break off part of the tooth affected by caries).
If the gums bleed a lot(so as not to aggravate the disease and not provoke inflammation).
If there are orthopedic and metal structures in the mouth(you can use only "superfloss").
Small children(so as not to injure the delicate children's gums).

Dental floss is a must for every person. After any meal, tiny particles of food remain between the teeth. If they are not removed (and an ordinary brush is not capable of doing this), you can achieve that they begin to rot and spoil the teeth, as well as inflame the gums.

How to properly clean your teeth with dental floss - floss: instructions, advice from dentists

Take the floss box and open the lid
Unwind the required amount of thread (some are comfortable with a short section of 2 cm, others 8-10 cm).
Each box should have a special metal hook that cuts off the thread so you don't need to look for scissors or other tools.
Wind the thread around the middle and forefinger middle hand
Place the thread between your teeth and begin to move it back and forth, pushing out the remnants of food.
You can also wind the thread around the tooth and clean the space behind the tooth and on the sides with two ends on the front of the jaw.
Throw the thread with which you brushed your teeth, and rinse your mouth thoroughly. clean water, medical liquid or herbal decoction.

Video: "Flossing Properly"

How to floss properly: before or after brushing your teeth?

It is recommended to use dental floss exactly the same number of times as you eat. Of course, not everyone is able to follow such recommendations, but if you can allow it 1-2 times (in the morning and in the evening), this will be enough. It is advisable to floss your teeth before brushing, as bristles and toothpaste can penetrate into those spaces where you have already removed food debris.

Dental floss: how often to use?

It is good to use dental floss regularly, but not often, so as not to injure the delicate gums and not provoke bleeding. The optimal number of times a day is during morning and evening brushing.

Can dental floss damage a tooth or gum?

It is possible to damage the oral cavity with floss only if:

Predisposition of the gums to bleeding
Inflammatory processes of the gums
If there is extensive caries (the tooth may break off)
If there is a filling in the mouth (especially an old one, it can be destroyed).