Flossing is the removal of food deposits and plaque between the teeth. Traditional dental floss, dental picks or water flossers are used to clean between the teeth. A traditional floss is a thin smooth string that can easily enter between the teeth and slightly under the gums without causing any pain or discomfort.

Benefits of Flossing
– During the day, the food and snacks get stuck between the teeth. Even after brushing twice a day, sometimes the toothbrush fails to remove the food stuck between the teeth.  These areas between the teeth are hard to reach and difficult to clean. A dental floss reaches into these areas with ease and remove food stuck between the teeth and the gumline.

– Flossing prevents the accumulation of food deposits and plaque on the teeth, which could harden over time and cause harm to your teeth by causing cavities, gum disease and bleeding gums, and sometimes leading to loss of teeth.

– Regular use of flossing aids is important for having a healthy smile, which boosts your self-esteem. Flossing is a very important dental habit to practice especially if you plan on keeping your natural teeth for a lifetime.

Not Sure How or When to Floss?
The first step is to become motivated and make flossing a daily habit. It is important to floss regularly, at least once a day after brushing preferably at night before sleeping. With consistency and commitment, flossing becomes second nature and easy to do.

If you are unsure how to floss properly, you are at the right place because a short guide on how to floss effectively is provided below:

1. Get some floss and take off about 30 cm of floss string and wrap it around your middle fingers.
2. Now hold your floss tightly with your index fingers and thumbs from both ends.
3. Gently slide the floss between your teeth and perform a back-and-forth motion until you reach the gumline.
4. Curve the floss into a C-shape against the tooth and gently move the floss up and down following the tooth shape until the gumline.
5. Avoid forcing the floss between your teeth while flossing, as this can cause damage to the soft tissue between the teeth.
6. Repeat this technique for all the remaining teeth.

Conclusion
Flossing is an important oral hygiene practice that helps keep your mouth healthy and complements brushing. As a result, performing both ensures that you have a healthy smile.