How To Floss Teeth

Learning how to floss teeth is important because there are places your toothbrush can't reach. If you learn how to floss your teeth correctly, you can prevent tooth decay and gum disease. It is recommended to floss your teeth every day. Keep reading for the proper methods for flossing teeth.

Items you will need:

• Dental floss or dental tape

Procedure:

1. Unwind about eighteen inches of floss.  Wind most each end of the floss around your middle fingers, leaving an inch or two of floss to work with. Don't wind it too tight and cut off your circulation.
2. Hold the floss taut, pinching it between your thumbs and index fingers. Maneuver the floss between two of your teeth. It may be difficult or easy depending on how closely your teeth are positioned.
3. Slide the floss gently up-and-down between your teeth. As you slide it, curve the floss around the base of each tooth, making sure you go beneath the gumline. Never snap or force the floss, as this may cut or bruise delicate gum tissue.
4. Remove the floss before moving to the next space. To remove the floss, use the same back-and-forth motion to bring the floss up (or down) and away from the teeth.
5. Use clean sections of floss as you move from tooth to tooth. Unwind a bit of floss from one finger and wind it onto the other finger to reveal a clean bit of floss. When you've finished flossing between each tooth, throw the floss away.

Now that you know how to floss teeth, keep in mind that daily flossing can hurt if you aren't used to flossing. You may find that your gums swell and are painful for a few days after beginning your flossing routine. You may skip a day to allow your gums to heal in between flossing until your gums are used to the cleanings.