Dental Floss
Oral hygiene is critical to overall health. Brushing our teeth regularly is an important step to have a healthy mouth and teeth structure. However, brushing teeth alone is not enough. This is where the role of the rope comes into play. Dental floss is a critical tool in maintaining our oral health by effectively cleaning the tight spaces between our teeth.
While a toothbrush is a great tool for cleaning the surface of our teeth, it may be insufficient to access the areas between our teeth. Food residues and plaques accumulated in these narrow spaces can cause gum diseases and cavities over time. Dental floss comes into play to prevent such problems. Flossing increases the health of gums, prevents tooth decay and improves overall oral hygiene.
What is Dental Floss?
Dental floss is a thin thread, usually made from materials such as nylon or Teflon. It reaches the spaces between the teeth and cleans food residues and plaques in areas where the toothbrush cannot reach. It is an important part of daily oral care routines necessary to maintain dental health.
The Importance of Flossing
Flossing has many important benefits. First of all, thread helps keep gums healthy and prevents gum diseases. Plaque between the teeth can lead to gingivitis over time, so removing this plaque is critical. In addition, food residues between the teeth pave the way for the proliferation of bacteria that cause tooth decay; Therefore, cleaning these residues with dental floss reduces the formation of caries. Flossing also helps prevent bad breath; It provides fresh breath by cleaning the food residues between the teeth. As a result, flossing improves overall oral hygiene and provides detailed cleaning that a toothbrush cannot reach.
How to Dental Floss
Flossing is a very simple process and can significantly improve your oral hygiene. As a first step, it is important to prepare the materials you need before using the rope; Get helpful tools such as dental floss, mirror and, if you want, a floss holder. Then, cut the string to sufficient length; Generally, a rope 45-50 cm long is enough for you to wrap the rope around both hands. Wrap the ends of the rope around your index finger and middle finger, trying to leave a space of 2-3 cm between your two fingers; This allows you to control the rope more easily.
Then, carefully place the floss between your teeth. Holding the floss at an angle between the gum and the tooth, slowly move it back and forth, trying to remove plaque in the process. Avoid applying excessive pressure to avoid damaging the gums. Do not forget to clean using floss between each tooth; After cleaning each tooth, do not forget to remove the plaque next to the tooth by pulling the floss downwards.
It is very important to provide a thorough cleaning by sliding the floss between each tooth. When cleaning one tooth is complete, move on to the other teeth using a different section of floss; This way, you will not carry the bacteria between the teeth you clean to other teeth.
After completing the use of the rope, rinsing the mouth is also useful; This helps remove the residues cleaned with the rope from the mouth and reinforces your oral hygiene. Taking these steps regularly will help you maintain your dental health and prevent gum diseases.
How Often to Use Dental Floss
Dental floss should be used at least once a day to maintain dental health; The ideal time is after brushing your teeth before going to bed in the evening. This allows food debris and plaque to be removed between the teeth, thus helping to prevent gum disease and cavities. Particularly, debris stuck between teeth accumulates in areas where a toothbrush cannot reach, so using floss is critical to improve oral hygiene.
Features that Dental Floss Must Have
There are some important features to consider when choosing dental floss. First of all, the material of the rope should be easy to use and durable; Quality materials such as nylon, Teflon or polyester should be preferred. Additionally, the thickness of the rope should ensure that users can easily reach the spaces between the teeth; While thin dental floss is more effective between tight teeth, thick floss is suitable for wide gaps.
The rope should have a slippery structure, making it easy to slide between the teeth and not damage the gums. Additionally, some dental floss can be mint flavored, which supports gum health while leaving a fresh feeling in the mouth. Finally, dental floss specially produced according to the needs of the users (for example, those with antibacterial properties) can also be preferred.
