Dental floss

Having perfect teeth is ideal, without gaps between them and not allowing food to get stuck. This has happened to everyone at some time in their life. Having food stuck between your teeth is a bit uncomfortable, and if we aren’t carrying a toothbrush with us to bush our teeth and get rid of it, we will most likely resort to a toothpick. However, that is not the best thing for our teeth. In these cases dental floss can be the perfect ally for these situations and a complement for our toothbrush and toothpaste, if we use it daily... and in the right way!

What is dental floss?

Dental floss is a set of plastic and nylon filaments that are treated and is used to remove small pieces of food and dental plaque from between our teeth. There are several types of dental floss and choosing the right one depends on our mouth and teeth, our preferences and recommendations by our dentist.

• Nylon or multi-filament dental floss: which may or may not be wax coated, and there are many different flavours available on the market today. The only disadvantage is that it can sometimes fray because it consists of several filaments.
• PTFE or single strand dental floss: the main benefit is that is slides easily between our teeth, even in small gaps, and it does not normally fray.

What are the benefits of using dental floss?

Although the main benefit of using dental floss is to remove any remains of dirt from between our teeth, using it in our daily routine can also have many advantages for our teeth. Take note!

• It reduces the risk of infection: dental floss removes plaque and any foreign bodies from between our teeth after brushing them, and it therefore helps to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
• It helps to make a dazzling smile: dental floss polishes the surface of our teeth, thereby making our teeth cleaner and whiter for a great smile.
• It prevents bad breath: by getting rid of any remains, it helps us fight off halitosis.
• It reduces pressure on teeth: by eliminating remains from between our teeth this relieves pressure on them and avoids them twisting or being damaged.

Including dental floss in our daily routine can have many benefits, but... Do you know how to use dental floss properly? We're going to tell you how:

1. Brush your teeth with the right toothbrush for you. If you don’t know which one is right, we’ll help you find out here.
2. Cut off approximately 46 centimetres of dental floss and roll most of it around one of your middle fingers.
3. Roll the rest of the floss around the same finger on your other hand. This finger will wind in the floss as you use it.
4. Hold the floss tight (without any slack parts) between your hands, leaving about three centimetres of floss between them. Guide the floss between your teeth and gently make a sawing motion.
5. When the floss reaches your gums, make a “C” shape with the floss against your teeth. Slide it gently into the space between your tooth and gum until you feel it go tight.
6. Hold the floss against your tooth and gently rub it up the side of your tooth away from the gum.
7. Repeat the process between all your teeth, even the ones right at the back.

You should use a mouthwash to rinse your mouth after for even more complete cleaning.

How often should you use dental floss?

Ideally you should use it after every meal, but if this is not possible, we recommend using it at least once a day.