A Your teeth vary in shape and size
depending on their position within your mouth. These
differences allow the teeth to do many different
jobs. Teeth help us to chew and digest food. They
help us to talk, and to pronounce different sounds
clearly. Finally, teeth help to give our face its
shape. A healthy smile can be a great asset and because
this is so important, it makes sense to give your
teeth the best care possible.
A One way to clean between your
teeth is with dental floss or tape. Flossing removes
plaque and food particles from between your teeth
and under the gumline, areas a toothbrush can't reach.
Your dentist or hygienist can show you proper flossing
techniques.
The following suggestions may help:
- Break off about 18 inches of floss, and wind most
of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the
remaining floss around the same finger of the other
hand. As you use the floss, you will take up the
used section with this finger.
- Hold the floss tightly between your thumb and forefingers,
with about an inch of floss between them, leaving
no slack. Use a gentle 'rocking' motion to guide
the floss between your teeth. Do not jerk the floss
or snap the floss into the gums.
- When the floss reaches the gumline, curve it into
a C-shape against one tooth until you feel resistance.
- Hold the floss against the tooth. Gently scrape
the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from
the gum. Repeat on the other side of the gap, along
the side of the next tooth
- Don't forget the back of your last tooth.
- When flossing, keep to a regular pattern. Start
at the top and work from left to right, then move
to the bottom and again work from the left to right.
This way you're less likely to miss any teeth.
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It
is also very important to clean around the edges
of any crowns, bridges or implants. This can be difficult
to do effectively using traditional floss and there
are now specialist flosses to do the job thoroughly
(such as super floss and specialist floss threaders).
Ask your dentist or hygienist on how to use these
properly and which method you should use.
A Your gums may bleed or be sore
for the first five or six days that you floss. This
should stop once the plaque is broken up and the
bacteria has gone. If the bleeding does not stop,
tell your dentist. It may be that you are not flossing
correctly or your teeth and gums need a more thorough
clean by your dentist or hygienist.
A If you have trouble using floss
you can use a floss holder or an interdental cleaning
aid. Interdental cleaning aids include woodsticks
or small interdental brushes used to remove plaque
from between the teeth. Your dentist or hygienist
can explain how to use these properly.
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