| Who would think that a simple piece of thread would | | | | 1) Start with 18 to 24 inches of floss, and wind most of |
| emerge as an important aid in the fight against cavities | | | | it around the middle or index finger on one hand |
| and gum disease? As far-fetched as it sounds, that's | | | | (whichever finger is the most comfortable for you). |
| exactly what happened to dental floss - a strong | | | | 2) Wrap the rest of the floss around the same finger |
| thread that is passed between teeth to loosen and | | | | on the other hand. Think of the other finger as the |
| remove food debris wedged between them. | | | | take-up spool for the used floss. Don't scrimp. Floss is |
| Next to brushing, flossing is a great way to clean your | | | | cheap and if you don't use enough, you're just |
| teeth and gums. It's readily available, easy to use, and | | | | reintroducing the bacteria to another spot when you |
| best of all, it's cheap! And it doesn't matter whether | | | | don't use a clean section of floss for each tooth. |
| you use waxed or unwaxed floss. They both produce | | | | 3) Hold the floss tightly with your thumbs and |
| the same benefits as long as you do it twice a day. | | | | forefingers, leaving about an inch of floss between |
| The magic of flossing is easily explained: it | | | | them. The floss should be taut. |
| complements brushing since it cleans between the | | | | 4) Use a gentle "sawing" kind of motion as you pull the |
| teeth and under the gums. Dentists say that no matter | | | | floss between the teeth. Be careful not to snap it into |
| how often you brush your teeth, your toothbrush won't | | | | the tender gum tissue. |
| reach the spaces between the teeth. These are the | | | | 5) When you've reached the gum line, curve the floss |
| areas where food gets stuck and oral bacteria may | | | | into a "C" shape to fit snugly around the tooth, and slide |
| reproduce leading to a host of problems later. With | | | | it into the space between the gums and tooth gently. |
| flossing, you can prevent that from happening. | | | | 6) Bring the floss out from the gum and scrape the |
| The bad news is that not everyone flosses and the | | | | side of the tooth. Remember, you're following the |
| few who do don't do it properly. Dental researchers | | | | shape of the tooth to remove the plaque from that |
| say only two percent to 10 percent of people floss | | | | side. After you pull it out, use a clean section of floss |
| regularly and effectively. Most people can't or won't | | | | to clean the tooth on the other side of that space. |
| floss daily. | | | | 7) Be sure to clean the back side of the last tooth on |
| For the benefit of readers, here is a short guide to the | | | | each side. |
| art of flossing: | | | | |