All Information You Need About Mouth Wash

Dental floss See How you Floss Your Teeth With orthodontic Appliances?

Dental Floss is a cord of thin filaments used in interdental cleaning to remove food and dental plaque and microbial masses from between teeth or places a toothbrush has difficulty reaching or is unable to reach like areas below the gum margins interproximal.

GOALS OF DENTAL FLOSS

• See How you Floss Your Teeth

  
  
  

•  The American Dental Association claims that up to 80% of the plaque can be removed by flossing.
  

• However, empirical scientific evidence demonstrating the clinical benefit of flossing as an adjunct to routine tooth brushing alone remains limited.

Technique of flossing

• person floss once per day before or after brushing to reach the areas that the brush will not and allow the fluoride from the toothpaste to reach between the teeth.

• Cut a suitable length of floss (15cm).

• Hold between the thumb and index fingers.

• Introduce the floss from the occlusal surface through the contact point down to the gingival crevice and wrap around the curvature of the tooth and scrap towards the occlusal surfaces.

• This removes particles of food stuck between teeth and dental plaque that adhere to dental surfaces below the gum line.

Types of Dental Floss

1-Waxed

• It is recommended for patients with very tight proximal contacts.

• Generally higher in cost than its uncoated counterparts.

2-Unwaxed

• It can slide through the contact areas easily.

• It provides effective cleaning because its fibers open during work and trap the plaque.

3-Medicated floss

It's impregnated with fluoride or chlorhexidine.

• Studies have shown that there is no difference in the effectiveness of waxed and unwaxed dental floss but some waxed types of dental floss are said to contain antibacterial like chlorohexidine agents and/or sodium fluoride.

• The most important difference between available dental flosses is thickness.

• Waxed and unwaxed floss are available in varying widths.

• Dental tape is a type of floss that is wider and flatter than conventional floss.

• Dental tape is recommended for people with a larger tooth surface area.

• The ability of different types of dental floss to remove dental plaque does not vary significantly.

• the least expensive floss has essentially the same impact on oral hygiene as the most expensive.

Factors to be considered when choosing the right floss or whether the use of floss as an interdental cleaning device is appropriate may be based on

• The tightness of the contact area and the amount of space between teeth determines the width of the floss.

• The contour of the gingival tissue.

• The roughness of the interproximal surface.

• The user's manual dexterity and preference determine if a supplemental device is required.

• The floss that is probably the most widely used is made of Teflon-coated shred-resistant polymer fibers, [and] when you have tight contacts between your teeth, this is probably the most comfortable floss to use.

The American Dental Association has stated that flossing in combination with tooth brushing can help prevent gum disease and halitosis.

Floss for orthodontic appliances

• Orthodontic appliances, such as brackets, wires, and bands, can harbor plaque with more virulent changes in bacterial composition, which can ultimately cause a reduction in periodontal health as indicated by increased gingival recession, bleeding on probing, and plaque retention measurements.

• Furthermore, fixed appliances make plaque control more challenging and restrict the natural cleaning action of the tongue, lips, and cheek to remove food and bacterial debris from tooth surfaces, and also create new plaque stagnation areas that stimulate the colonization of pathogenic bacteria.

• Patients undergoing orthodontic treatment may be recommended to maintain a high level of plaque control through not only conscientious toothbrushing but also proximal surface cleaning via interdental aids, with dental floss is the most recommended by dental professionals.

• Notably, small-scale clinical studies have demonstrated that dental floss, when used correctly, may lead to clinically significant improvements in proximal gingival health.

Floss threader

A floss threader is a loop of fiber that is shaped to produce better handling characteristics. It is (similar to a fishing line) used to thread floss into small, hard-to-reach sites around teeth. Threaders are sometimes required to floss with dental braces, fix retainers, and bridge.

Floss pick

• A floss pick is a disposable oral hygiene device generally made of plastic and dental floss. The tool is composed of two prongs extending from a thin plastic body of high-impact polystyrene material. A single piece of floss runs between the two prongs. The body of the floss pick generally tapers at its end in the shape of a toothpick.

• There are two types of angled floss picks in the oral care industry, the Y-shaped angle and the F-shaped angle floss pick. At the base of the arch where the "Y" begins to branch there is a handle for gripping and maneuvering before it tapers off into a pick.

• Floss picks are manufactured in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes for adults and children. The floss can be coated in fluoride, flavor, or wax.

How We Selected the Floss

• Any floss is better than no floss, We suggested looking for shred-resistant flosses with thicker, more woven textures versus the flat, gliding kinds that feel good but don’t have much scrubbing power.
• We also recommended steering clear of flosses containing chemicals like ''polyfluoroalkyls'' and, if you have sensitive teeth or are cavity-prone, looking for a piece of floss with fluoride or other enamel-protective ingredients.

• With those notes in mind, we scoured the internet for crowd-favorite dental flosses, considering more than two dozen products.
• We looked for thick, easy-to-use flosses, flosses designed to expand and optimize their scrubbing power, and flosses made with natural or cavity-fighting ingredients. We also included a few classic floss alternatives, like picks and strands, for people with braces or dental appliances.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Does dental floss expire?

• Floss is often flavored or waxed or both, and over time the wax can get old, and the scent and the flavor can go away, but the floss is not really harmful or unsafe to use.

• Not really, though flavored or wax floss may change in taste in texture when floss is kept around for long periods of time.
• But it is better to change it continuously because bacteria stick to it.

Should you Floss before or after brushing your teeth?

• According to Dr. Reich, the latest research comes down in favor of flossing before brushing.

• He cites a 2018 study published in the Journal of Periodontology, which compared plaque reduction in two groups: brushing first, then flossing, and flossing first, then brushing.

• The results showed that plaque reduction was significantly higher in the group that flossed before brushing than in the group that flossed after brushing.

• We recommend a floss first, and brush the second routine for maximum clean-mouth potential.

What should you do if your gums regularly bleed after flossing?

• Bleeding gums is a sign of inflammation, which is often due to ineffective removal of plaque.

• Bleeding gums can be caused by multiple things, some a sign of gum disease and some easily reversible.

• It can also be the result of overaggressive flossing, which is causing trauma to the gum tissue.

• You may also have bleeding gums if you are on certain medications, such as blood thinners, o

• r any disease that affects the blood vessels.

• If you have a vitamin deficiency or if you are pregnant, Since it’s hard for patients to know what the source of their bleeding is, the best course of action is to talk with your dentist about your experience.

• Your dentist can then refer you to a gum specialist, or periodontist, if necessary.