How to floss correctly

Flossing your teeth isn’t just about getting rid of food lodged between your teeth, it’s about massaging the gums gently and effectively to help fight gum disease and gingivitis by removing plaque and freshening breath.

It’s a little known fact but it’s actually better to floss BEFORE cleaning your teeth… mind blown right?  I’ll be honest, I didn’t know this either until a short while ago.

So how should be we flossing?  It can’t be that hard right? well, you’d be surprised at how many of us do floss incorrectly, inadvertently causing damage to our gums as well.  Not good.

Here are a few pointers on what you should actually be doing

1. Take 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45cm) of floss, wrap it around your fingers so it’s taut and you have firm control of the floss in your hands.
2. Carefully move the floss between your teeth in a gentle seesaw motion.  Don’t push the floss into the gums
3. When the floss reaches your gumline curve it into a c shape against one tooth
4. Gently scrape that tooth with the floss to dislodge plaque (this is where our Charcoal floss helps brighten teeth – it’s fab!)
5. Move the floss gently to the other side of the tooth to cleanse the opposite side
6. Don’t forget to do the back of your last tooth
7. Keep a regular pattern when you floss, be systematic about it, that way you won’t forget where you started and you won’t miss any teeth

Some people experience bleeding after flossing for the first time or after a break, if this happens please continue, don’t panic, its usually because your gums are getting used to the flossing.  Check that you’re flossing correctly as per the above and the bleeding should stop after a few days.  If it doesn’t please book in for a dental appointment so your dentist can advise.