Method of Flossing

Dental floss should be inserted slowly while being moved back-and- forth little by little like a saw. If you insert the floss too vigorously, it may damage your gum. So, until you get used, you should insert the floss carefully while looking in a mirror.

If you insert the floss into the interdental space, you should move the floss up and down between the crown and the root while moving it back-and-forth like a saw. As the floss reaches the gum, you should return it to the crown as well. After flossing, you should clean the oral cavity with tap water.

When you do flossing for the first time, you may bleed from the gum. This is because you had never done flossing until the time. The bleeding is caused by the inflammation of the interdental gum and the accumulation of plaque induces the inflammation. While continuing regular flossing, plaque is removed and the bleeding will be stopped. So, if you bleed in flossing, don't be afraid and please continue flossing. However, if the bleeding continues for a long time, your flossing method can be problematic or there can be serious problems in your gum. In such a case, you should receive medical treatment at the dental clinic.

If the floss seems not to be inserted, the floss often can be passed through with slow insert. However, in the cases of "inserting the floss is absolutely impossible", "the floss is caught in the middle" and "the floss is cut", you may have invisible bad teeth, your fillings or post crowns may be wearing out, or the orthodontic may be required. In such cases, you should receive medical treatment at the dental clinic.

If you use interdental brush, you should slowly insert it from outside to the interdental space near the gum. If the interdental space is too small to be inserted, you should not insert it forcibly and should use dental floss. Although interdental brushes are available in various sizes, too large brushes may injure your gum. So, for the first time, starting with the smallest brush is recommended. And you should up the size gradually. Interdental brush should be used while looking in a mirror.

The inserted interdental brush should be moved about one round trip. In this case, extra power is not required. You should move the brush back-and-forth with very small force. If you use interdental brush for the first time, you will be surprised by the large amount of plaque.

Interdental brushes have the high performance of cleaning and their performance of removing plaque is higher than dental floss. Dental floss is suitable for the smaller interdental space and Interdental brush is suitable for the larger space. So, if you do flossing with two different tools, you can do plaque control very effectively.