Dental floss: how, when and why should it be used?

Indications Advantages of use Contraindications How to use?
Dental floss and braces Types How to choose? If the floss gets stuck Brand rating For quality oral hygiene, just a brush with paste is not enough. Teeth have 5 surfaces, the brush effectively cleans 3 - anterior, lingual, chewing. The remaining 2 (cervical area, interdental spaces) need to be cleaned of plaque and food debris using additional hygiene products - dental floss or an interdental brush. And if, with dense interdental spaces, the effectiveness of a brush is in doubt, then the benefits of correctly chosen flosses are obvious. But many people don’t even know how to use dental floss correctly.

What is dental floss?

Floss is a special thread made of silk or polymer fiber for high-quality cleaning of the spaces between incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. It helps remove food particles in a similar way to a toothpick, but is much safer and more effective. The fibrous structure of dental floss makes it possible to gently and gently remove deposits from the enamel, preventing bacteria from multiplying and destroying hard tissue. The floss is placed between the teeth, cleaning first one side and then the other side of the dentition. It is important to know how to use dental floss correctly, otherwise the opposite effect will be obtained instead of benefit.

Types of dental brushes

You need to choose brushes based on the shape and length of the bristles. There are two types of brush shapes: cylinder and cone.

• Cylinder

It has the same length of bristles, copes well with food stuck between teeth, prevents periodontitis, and is suitable for implants.

• Cone

The bristles become shorter towards the tip of the brush. Suitable for cleaning braces and dentures, as it allows you to clean areas under the clasps and in the spaces between the crowns.

What length of bristles is needed depends on the size of the spaces between the teeth. If they are narrow, brushes with short bristles (about 1 mm) are suitable. If, on the contrary, you are large or have braces, choose a brush with bristles no shorter than 3 mm.

When to use floss

There are different recommendations for how to use dental floss. Some experts believe that it is more effective to apply it before hygienic brushing, while others believe that floss is more effective after brushing with paste. There is no general scientific basis or clinical studies on this issue. The only important thing is the systematic use of dental floss.

Direct indication for flossing:

• crowded teeth;
• installation of approximal fillings;
• periodontal diseases;
• the presence of any non-removable orthodontic (braces), orthopedic (crowns, dentures) structures.

To maintain healthy teeth and gums, hygienic cleaning should be performed 2 times, daily, morning and evening. Flossing is part of oral hygiene. This product will finish the job where you can’t reach with a brush. Dental floss is recommended for everyone, without restrictions on age or structural features of the dental system. Flossing is needed for milk teeth, permanent teeth, and artificial teeth (crowns, dentures).

Which thread to choose

You can buy the right dental floss only after consulting a dentist. The specialist will examine the condition of the oral cavity, determine the advisability of using floss at the moment and select the desired type.

When making your own choice, it is worth remembering a few nuances:

1. Flosses with antiseptic impregnations are not suitable for children; they are not used for regular use.
2. Aromatic impregnations can cause allergic reactions.
3. Flossers with handles are more convenient if the head is flexible or floating. This design can be easily adjusted to the structure of a specific jaw.
4. Softer threads are more difficult to cut the gums.
5. The “superfloss” type combines fibers from different materials. During application, an expanding piece of thread envelops the tooth from all sides, treating it in full. This type is optimal in the presence of microstructures (crowns, dentures, splinting, braces).
6. The longer the skein, the longer one box will last. The best option is a floss of 25 m.
7. Some brands offer satin-coated threads. They have a softness similar to silk, but are made from durable synthetics (for example, Oral-B).

The required cross-section will have to be determined experimentally without the advice of a specialist.

How to use: instructions

To use dental floss most effectively, you need to know the correct cleaning technology:

1. Pull out a part of the floss 45-60 cm long. This length is enough to securely fix the thread on your fingers. Also, each dental unit is processed with a new part, so it is more convenient to initially take a longer floss.
2. Twist the ends of the thread around your index or middle fingers. Make several turns, leaving a stretched part about 3 cm long between the thumbs. This part will be used to clean the contact surfaces.

1. Gently insert the floss into the interdental space. After several light forward movements, the thread is inserted just below the gingival margin. Carefully move it up and down between the contact surfaces, around the tooth, slightly penetrating under the cervical area. Do not tug or pull the thread so as not to damage the mucous membrane and gum tissue.
2. A similar procedure is repeated for all adjacent teeth. Cleaning begins with the upper row of teeth, then cleans the lower one. They move from the central incisors to the edges, in one direction or the other. To develop a habit, you should clean the segments according to the same principle each time.
3. Moving on to the next tooth, move the floss using a new, clean part. To do this, move your fingers, rewinding the used segment.
4. After cleaning, rinse your mouth with warm water or a special product. This will get rid of food particles, plaque residues, and provide fresh breath.

Do not make cutting movements or insert the thread deep under the gum, avoiding damage to the dentogingival attachment. When everything is done correctly, there is no discomfort or pain. After processing the dentition, the used floss is thrown away. Repeated use will provoke the spread of pathogenic microorganisms in the oral cavity, inflammation and other problems.

The first few days after flossing, your gums may bleed slightly. With regular cleaning, the bleeding stops on its own. But if during hygiene you constantly find bleeding gums, you need to go to the dentist for an examination and diagnosis.

Instructions for using floss

If you want to use dental floss for the first time, it is best to use flat and waxed floss - they are smooth, slip between teeth very easily, and the risk of accidentally injuring the gums is minimal. Once you get the hang of using thread, you can use round, unwaxed, and so on.

How to brush your teeth with dental floss:

1. wash your hands with soap to avoid introducing bacteria into your mouth;
2. separate a 20–45 cm part of the thread from the skein (or remove the flosser with the thread already attached from the package);
3. wrap the thread around the middle or index fingers of both hands so that about 5 centimeters of thread remains between the fingers;
4. in this case, one hand should fix the floss in a taut form, and the other should hold its remainder;
5. the stretched floss must be carefully inserted into the space between the teeth;
6. the beginning of cleaning is a back-and-forth movement, and then you need to move on to top-down movements;
7. The thread should be pressed against the side surface of the tooth and guided carefully and smoothly.

Each tooth should be flossed with the unused portion of the floss to avoid transferring bacteria and plaque from tooth to tooth. Do not tug or pull the floss to avoid injuring your gums.

How often should I floss? Here it is worth asking your dentist for recommendations, but common advice is to use it once a day, in the evening, to remove food debris that has accumulated during the day.

How to floss with braces

For braces, there are superflosses with hard tips that clean not only the contact surfaces of the enamel, but also the elements of the corrective equipment. They easily pass areas above/under the arch, around the locks. The floss is inserted over the arch into the interdental space. When the thread is in the correct position, use gentle up and down movements to clean the enamel surfaces. All other adjacent surfaces of the dental units are cleaned in a similar way. The thread is used after cleaning with a brush or brush. A special orthodontic needle threader will make threading over the wire easier.

At what age are children allowed?

A child can use floss independently no earlier than 10 years old, but you can start getting acquainted with it much earlier. First, parents themselves must clean the interdental spaces in the child’s mouth, and over time teach the child to carry out this procedure independently.

However, some dentists do not recommend using floss before the age of 12, and explain this by the fact that:

• a child’s mucous membrane is very delicate and can be easily injured;
• not all milk teeth have been replaced by permanent ones;
• the child may make sudden movements with the floss, which will cause bleeding gums and inflammation.

Important! The child should carry out the first few independent procedures for flossing his teeth under the supervision of his parents.

Kinds

Modern threads are made from silk or polymer fibers (nylon, nylon, Teflon, acetate). Floss is sold in special cassettes (from 10 to 100 m), providing hygienic storage and comfortable unwinding of the required length, thanks to the cutting edge under the lid.

Manufacturers also offer threads on a holder (flosser, dental machine). They are sold in several units per package. Some people choose a flosser, since its use eliminates the contact of hands with the oral mucosa and makes caring for eighth molars (wisdom teeth) easier.

Will floss be replaced by sewing thread?

Of course, in essence, dental floss and regular sewing floss are similar, but you must take into account the fact that oral care products go through several stages of processing and therefore their use is safer.

In addition, an ordinary sewing machine can even cut the skin on a finger, not to mention the delicate mucous membrane of the gums. It can also cause an infection, because there is no way to treat it with an antibacterial agent - the most you can do is put it in alcohol.

Dentists do not recommend using sewing thread to clean interdental spaces, as this increases the risk of bleeding gums, and prolonged use of such thread can cause periodontitis and gingivitis.

You can buy dental floss at a regular pharmacy, as well as in supermarket departments where oral hygiene products are available. A package costs from 150 to 300 rubles, depending on the brand, the quality of the thread and additional processing.

What is the difference between dental floss?

Various types of thread are available for sale. Waxed, non-waxed, impregnated with silver, menthol, medicinal herbal extracts, as indicated on the package. Flosses are distinguished by cross-section, thickness, material, and processing.

According to sectional shape

• Round – recommended for large gaps between teeth;
• flat dental floss – efficiently removes deposits from crowded teeth and dense contact points;
• tape - for trema, diastemas.

By surface treatment

• Waxed - flosses treated with a thin layer of wax glide easily in the interdental space, are safe, suitable for gum disease, do not separate, simplify care;
• not waxed - they separate into fibers during use, the abrasive surface copes better with cleaning.

The difference between waxed and non-waxed dental floss is that the former penetrates between the teeth more easily, while the latter cleans the surface better.

By material

• Nylon - durable, strong, cleans contact surfaces efficiently, which makes them one of the most popular;
• silk dental floss - characterized by low mechanical tensile strength, therefore less and less are produced;
• nylon - reliable, strong, but less flexible than nylon models;
• acetate - elastic, soft, similar in characteristics to silk threads;
• Teflon - have the lowest coefficient of friction, quickly cope with dental plaque, the most expensive of all analogues.

All types of floss provide a similar effect. And the systematic, correct use of dental floss is more important than the brand, model or price.

Benefits of flossing

Dental floss is designed for individual use, so it is often packaged in a small case equipped with a device for separating the floss. Typically it holds about 50 m of floss. Practical, convenient, the case can always be carried with you.

With regular and correct use of floss:

• quickly removes plaque from teeth, promoting their whitening;
• neutralizes unpleasant odors;
• helps protect teeth from various diseases;
• restores normal acidity levels.

Of course, before you buy floss, it is better to consult your doctor. The specialist will tell you about contraindications to using dental floss.

• Caries.
  The floss can catch the affected area of ​​the tooth, and a piece of it can break off.
• Bleeding gums.
  If floss is used incorrectly, after repeated use, cuts may form at the points of contact between the floss and the gums, which can lead to an inflammatory process.
• Presence of bridges and implants.
  In this case, only a specialist can help you choose a thread.

How to choose

There are several main parameters by which dental floss is chosen. The first is size. The wider the interdental space, the larger the diameter of the floss needed. The second thing people pay attention to is the material, or rather the surface treatment. For beginners, it is better to choose a waxed thread, as it does not delaminate, easily enters the interdental space, and makes care easier. But floss without waxing removes deposits from hard-to-reach places better. People with braces and dentures should choose special models (superflosses), which do an excellent job of both cleaning between teeth and caring for elements of the orthodontic or orthopedic system.

Many patients are interested in what can replace dental floss. A good alternative is a flosser; it’s easy to use, you don’t need to monitor the length of the thread, and it’s easier to care for the outer teeth in a row. The irrigator does a better job of cleaning the periodontal sulcus, pathological pockets, and performs hydromassage of the gums, but it is not capable of cleaning the interdental spaces as efficiently as floss.

The essence of the device

Human teeth have five surfaces, and a toothbrush only cleans three of them. The space between the teeth remains unbrushed, this creates a favorable environment for the development of pathogenic microorganisms. Floss penetrates into places that are inaccessible to a toothbrush and provides 100% oral hygiene.

Important! Without flossing, more than 1/3 of the surface of the teeth remains uncleaned, which undoubtedly affects their condition.

It can be made from high quality artificial fibers:

• acetate;
• nylon;
• nylon;
• natural silk.

There are a large number of types of floss, and when choosing, you should pay attention not only to the cost and its manufacturer, but also to what teeth it will need to care for.

1. If a person is just learning to brush their teeth with floss, it is recommended to use waxed floss.
2. If you already have experience using floss, it is better to choose unwaxed ones - they exfoliate, which allows you to clean a larger area.
3. Flat floss is recommended for cleaning narrow spaces between teeth.
4. Flosses with a round cross-section are best used for cleaning wide spaces. Thick threads expand when in contact with saliva, and this not only promotes better cleansing, but reduces the risk of gum injury.
5. There are ribbon flosses that are recommended to be used for trema or diastema.

The impregnation of dental floss is of no small importance, since this device not only cleans the interdental spaces, but also has a therapeutic or preventive effect. In most cases, manufacturers use sodium fluoride for impregnation - it strengthens tooth enamel and prevents the development of caries. There are threads for breath freshening with menthol, for disinfection - with chlorhexidine, and so on.

Reference! Dental floss is also classified by purpose - some are used only in the dentist's office, while others are suitable for use at home.

Oral-B dental floss :

1. Pro-Expert Clinic Line is a lightweight sliding fiber designed for a wide range of consumers.
2. Essential Floss - with polymer components that remove plaque.
3. Satin Floss – silk.
4. Essential Floss – waxed, gently cleans the space between teeth.

Colgate Dental Floss:

1. Colgate® Total - impregnated with sodium pyrophosphate, mint flavor.
2. Colgate Optic White – has an additive with bactericidal properties.

PresiDENT dental floss:

1. SILVER CARE – thin, contains silver nitrate and sodium chloride, has a refreshing mint taste.
2. Dental floss with chlorhexidine - recommended for those who have problems with gum inflammation.
3. Extra flat floss is a ribbon thread designed for narrow spaces between teeth.
4. Multi-active – swells under the influence of saliva.
5. Whitening dental floss with papain – contains papaya enzyme, which has whitening properties.

Dental floss Sensodyne Total Care is able to increase in size under the influence of saliva, suitable for sensitive teeth and gums. Lacalut Dental are made of nylon with a round cross-section.

What to do if the floss gets stuck

If dental floss gets stuck between teeth, you need to determine the cause. This happens if the size is incorrectly selected, if there are cracks, chips on the contact surface of the enamel or caries in this area. Another reason is tartar between the teeth, on which the floss clings, breaks, and as a result gets stuck.

To remove a stuck thread:

• rinse your mouth vigorously with water;
• rinse the interdental space with an irrigator;
• use a new thread to remove the problematic piece;
• use tweezers.

If these methods do not help, you should consult a doctor. Do not use needles, toothpicks, fishing lines, tines of forks or other sharp objects. This could result in serious injury. The dentist will remove the stuck piece quickly, without problems, using special tools.

Benefit

Correct use of floss ensures:

• plaque removal;
• prevention of caries;
• getting rid of bad breath;
• normalization of acid balance in the oral cavity.

Recommendations for use:

1. The cleaning procedure should be carried out before or after using the brush.
2. You can use the thread after every meal, and if this is not possible, then at least at night.
3. All movements should be as careful as possible so as not to damage the gums.
4. When using floss, you must pay attention to the condition of the gums - if they begin to bleed, the procedure should be stopped, and the oral cavity should be rinsed well with water. If your gums bleed with constant regularity, you need to consult a specialist - perhaps the thread was chosen incorrectly, or perhaps its use in this case is simply unacceptable.

Additional thread processing

Also for better glide over tooth enamel, floss

impregnated with special
wax
.
Waxed flosses are more convenient to use. They glide easily over the surface of the tooth. However, it is better to remove plaque and food debris from the interdental spaces not with waxed, but with fibrous thread. Flosses are sometimes treated with sodium fluoride
.
Then the floss has the ability to prevent caries and strengthen tooth enamel at the point of contact. Adding menthol
freshens breath, and
chlorhexidine
disinfects the oral cavity.

Which brand of dental floss and brushes should I choose?

Dental floss and brushes must be durable, not oxidize under the influence of saliva and not cause allergies. We recommend products from Curaprox, Biorepair, Miradent, Pierrot, GUM, ROCS and Splat - all of them meet these requirements.

When making a purchase, you should focus not on the manufacturer, but on the type of dental floss or brush, taking into account the individual characteristics of the structure of the teeth, the presence of orthodontic structures and your dental goals. However, some brands have distinctive features that should be taken into account.

Thus, Prime Start brushes from Curaprox are considered the thinnest on the market. The Cural surgical steel from which the rods are made does not contain nickel and is therefore ideal for allergy sufferers. And the bristles of Biorepair brushes are treated with tiny particles of hydroxyapatite - the building substance that our teeth are made of. By acting on the enamel, microRepair particles restore and strengthen it.