Flossing

Main Thing

Flossing is a way to clean between your teeth. You use a specific tool to remove food and plaque that a toothbrush can't reach. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria. If you don't remove it, it can lead to gum disease and cavities. Flossing once a day is recommended.There are different types of flossing tools:

• Standard Floss: This is a piece of string that you slide between your teeth. It can be waxed or unwaxed, flavored or unflavored.

• Dental Tape: Also known as tape floss, it is broader and flatter than standard floss and can be easier to slide between tight teeth.

• Super Flosses: These are pre-cut pieces of floss with a stiff end that helps in cleaning braces or dental bridges.

• Floss Picks: These are small plastic tools with a piece of floss at one end.

• Water Flossers: Also known as Waterpiks or dental water jets, they use a stream of water to clean between your teeth.

Example: After brushing your teeth at night, you take a piece of floss and slide it gently up and down between your teeth, curving it around each tooth. Alternatively, you could use a water flosser, which sprays a stream of water to clean between your teeth.

Terminology

• Flossing: The process of cleaning between your teeth using a string or a stream of water. Example: After brushing your teeth, you use floss to remove any remaining food particles or plaque.

• Plaque: A sticky film of bacteria that forms on your teeth. If not removed, it can lead to gum disease and cavities. Example: Regular brushing and flossing can help prevent plaque buildup.

• Water Flosser: A device that uses a stream of water to clean between your teeth. Example: Some people prefer using a water flosser over traditional floss for its ease of use and effectiveness.

Analogy

Flossing is like using a sieve to clean rice. Just as the sieve removes unwanted particles from the rice, floss removes food particles and plaque from between your teeth.

A Main Misconception

Many people think that brushing alone is enough for oral hygiene. However, a toothbrush can't reach the spaces between teeth where food particles and plaque can accumulate. Flossing is necessary to thoroughly clean these spaces and prevent dental issues.Example: Despite brushing twice a day, John often had cavities. His dentist explained that he was missing out on flossing, which left food particles and plaque between his teeth.

The History

Flossing has been around for hundreds of years. It was first mentioned in a book by Levi Spear Parmly, a dentist from New Orleans, in 1815. He recommended using a piece of silk thread for flossing. Over the years, floss has evolved and now comes in various forms like dental tape, super floss, and water flossers."Cleanliness is next to godliness," said Dr. Charles C. Bass, known as the father of preventive dentistry, emphasizing the importance of oral hygiene.

Three Cases How to Use It Right Now

1. Case: After eating popcorn while watching a movie, you feel kernels stuck between your teeth. Action: Use a piece of floss or a floss pick to remove the kernels. Benefits: This prevents discomfort and potential plaque buildup.

2. Case: You have braces and find it difficult to clean food particles stuck in them. Action: Use super floss, which has a stiff end that can be threaded beneath the brace wire. Benefits: This ensures your braces and teeth are clean, reducing the risk of cavities.

3. Case: You have sensitive gums and find traditional flossing painful. Action: Use a water flosser, which cleans between teeth using a gentle stream of water. Benefits: This provides a comfortable and effective way to clean between your teeth and along the gum line.

Interesting Facts

1. If you floss once a day, you will use about 5 miles of floss in your lifetime.

2. Not flossing means you miss cleaning 35% of your tooth surfaces.

3. Flossing can help prevent bad breath by removing food particles and bacteria.

4. The first commercial floss was manufactured in 1882.

5. Water flossing is as effective as string flossing in reducing plaque and improving gum health.