Blog
December 3, 2021 | By Greg Skulman
Flossing is one of the most important steps in your normal oral hygiene routine. Not only does it remove food from between your teeth, but when done properly, it also removes plaque from the sides of your teeth. Plaque is the sticky film on your teeth that can be removed by tooth brushing and flossing. If not properly removed every 24 hours, the sticky plaque will harden into calculus (tartar).
The only thing that will remove tartar is a dental hygienist with the proper tools. If your gums bleed or hurt when you brush, you are probably not flossing correctly. Tartar buildup causes inflammation to the gums. This inflammation only gets worse until the tartar is removed. The worsening inflammation can lead to periodontal disease and tooth loss.
Proper Flossing Technique
- Using 18-24 inches of floss, wind the majority around one middle finger and the rest around the other middle finger.
- Slide the floss between the teeth, then curl the floss around the teeth to make a “C” shape.
- Slide the floss up and down the sides of each tooth carefully going under the gums.
- Wind the dirty part of the floss around the finger with the least amount of floss then repeat the steps between the next two teeth.
What is my favorite floss? Coco Floss. I accidentally discovered it on Facebook. Coco Floss is much thicker than regular floss. The hundreds of filaments scrub the plaque. Regular floss tends to be slippery and just moves the plaque around. The flat thin structure lacks the texture needed to capture plaque.
Cocofloss is made with natural ingredients and microcrystalline vegan wax. Cocofloss is made with thoughtfully sourced ingredients. Bonus, it comes in fun flavors like strawberry, coconut, hibiscus, and orange! You can even order it on subscription. That will eliminate the old excuse of “I ran out of floss and forgot to get more.” So if you’re wondering what your dental hygienist uses to floss, it’s Coco Floss.