The best way to protect your oral health is to brush your teeth twice a day, make sure you’re flossing once a day, and don’t forget to come in to see us every six months for your checkup and cleaning. While your habit of brushing and showing up for visits will quickly switch over to autopilot, you might find that you continue to struggle a bit with your flossing. Rather than allow this detail to trip you up, we suggest you consider a few suggestions that will ensure you’re doing a wonderful job.

Check Your Floss Length

How much floss are you using each time you floss? Are you randomly tearing off about six inches of floss to use throughout your entire mouth? If you’re using anything less than around a foot and a half of floss, you are going to find that you can’t make it to the end without reusing a portion (which is not doing your oral health any favors). Remember to use enough, so you clean your teeth rather than simply move food particles and bacteria from location to location.

Check Your Floss, Too

Take a look at the floss you’re using – are you happy with it? If not, it is essential that you like the flavor of the floss and the texture. If you have trouble getting the floss between close-together teeth, reach out for a waxed version. If your gums feel quite sensitive when you floss, you might want to seek out floss made specifically for your concern (or choose tape instead of thread).

Follow The Correct Method

Promoting excellent oral health means flossing your teeth correctly. This is simple – begin by carefully winding the floss around your middle fingers instead of your index fingers. Then, allow your index fingers and thumbs to direct the floss. Rather than keeping the floss taut and straight, hold it tightly but gently curve it to the side around a tooth border – slide the floss up. Perform this again along every tooth edge.