If you read Monday’s post, you know it’s been a while since we’ve paid attention to non-pick flossing. Now that we’ve launched our three pick-less dental flosses, it might be a good time for a refresher course in technique, right?
Here are some good things to remember when flossing the old-fashioned way:
- Wrap around your middle fingers, not index fingers. You’ll need your index fingers to grip the floss with your thumbs and guide it gently between your teeth.
- Clean below the gumline. Your teeth extend below your gumline, making a perfect place for plaque to hide. Gently rub your floss against your tooth beneath your gumline to scrub out the plaque and food that gets caught in there.
- Curve the floss around your teeth like this while gently flossing instead of going straight up and down. This will clean a larger surface area and avoid tearing up your soft gum tissue.
- Be gentle. Oh. Have I said that already? That’s probably because it’s really important. Flossing too hard can do some serious and painful damage to your gums. Take it easy and avoid uncomfortable cuts and bleeding.
One more thing to remember is to keep at it, even if it’s uncomfortable or your gums bleed at first. It takes a little while for your mouth to get used to being flossed, but if you make it a habit any discomfort will most likely fade. If pain persists, definitely take it up with your dentist.
Ready for our first guest post? Check back Monday!
