Dental floss is a type of thread used to remove food and debris from between teeth. Toothbrushes are typically used to clean teeth and the gums, but it is not uncommon for a person to use dental floss before or after brushing while in brushing their teeth.
The importance of dental flossing has been around since ancient times. Egyptians revealed in hieroglyphs on tomb walls they used a type of thread to remove food and debris from between teeth. In addition, Romans mentioned using string-like material for oral care nearly 2,000 years ago. Dental floss was also popularly mentioned by Leonardo da Vinci and Albert Portas in Europe during the late 1800s. Plastic dental floss was invented in 1936; however, removing material between teeth with a string certainly did not die out after this time. The necessity of protecting one’s teeth from decay and gum disease is still important today. Dental floss can help prevent plaque and gingivitis from forming on teeth and gums. It is also used to remove food build-up between teeth, which can lead to tooth decay.
It is also important for people who have dental implants to use dental floss because it helps protect them from gum disease and helps them clean their implants after brushing.
How to use dental floss:
To use dental floss, it is recommended that a person should brush their teeth with toothpaste and then, using their right hand, wrap it around the middle finger. It should be wrapped tightly enough to ensure that the thread will not slip out of the person’s fingers. The right hand should then pull back until the string is tight against the palm. Then a person would use their left hand to pull out on one end while they push in on the other end of dental floss just before coming into contact with teeth or gum tissue. One can use pressure at any point in this process to remove plaque and debris from between teeth and gums. A person should begin with the right side of the mouth, since this is where most people find plaque and debris. Usually, it is recommended that a person use dental floss once per day in order to remove the remaining material so as not to get too used to it. It is also a good idea for someone to use flossing techniques other than pulling it out from between teeth. This way, more areas of the mouth can be cleaned and one does not tire out of their hands by gripping floss tightly for a long time.