Teaching Yourself And Your Family How To Floss Properly

Dentist Blog

As a parent, it is important that you are the leading example for showing your children how to care for their teeth properly. Without a good role model, children often fall behind on caring for their teeth, which is really bad for the development of their smile. In order to teach your children proper dental care, you want to know how to care for your teeth properly yourself. Everything from the way that you brush to the way that you floss can make a huge difference in your dental health. Here's how to floss properly:

Choose the Right Floss:

There are many types of floss that are available to you. You want to be sure that you choose the right one for you and your kids. For example, if you have teeth that sit very tight against one another, then you want to choose a floss that is designed to get in between the teeth more easily. For your children, you may choose floss that can be used with the help of flossing aids, which help your children to reach the very back of their mouths. By the time your children are ready to floss, they should be able to use a floss that contains fluoride, which is important to have since it removes plaque more easily. 

Use a Sawing Motion:

When you begin flossing your teeth, you want to use a sawing motion. This will help you to avoid snapping the floss into the mouth, which will prevent cutting and irritating the gums. Be sure that you are gentle with the floss and guide your children in doing the same. 

Always Use Clean Sections:

You must be sure that you are cleaning between each and every tooth. You must be sure that every time you move on to another tooth, you are using a clean section of the floss. Otherwise, you could be pushing plaque right back into your mouth instead of removing it. This is why you want to be sure that you are using enough floss to be able to do this. 

Floss Before Brushing:

Many people aren't sure whether or not they should be flossing before they brush or after. The best way is to floss before brushing. This way, any plaque that didn't stick to the floss can be loose enough between the teeth to be removed by the brushing process. 

By knowing how to properly floss your teeth, you can become a better role model for your children. This is so important for their development and developing proper hygienic routines.  For more information, contact a professional like Tamarack Hills Family Dentistry.

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30 June 2015