AAP PATIENT PAGE

INTERDENTAL CLEANING For teeth and health: Super floss to the rescue

hat’s 18 inches long, ably ever wanted to know about ADA survey fibbed about their Wcosts only $7 a year, is . Next time you try to flossing frequency.) strong enough to have freed pris- overlook the floss in your medi- ! There have been reports of pris- oners from their cells, yet submis- cine cabinet, maybe some of these oners who escaped after using den- sive enough to wrap around your flossing factoids will give tal floss to gradually saw through little finger? you pause: cell bars. Give up? The dental floss ! If you don’t floss, ! Bleeding during flossing is not you should be using every you miss cleaning normal and not okay. If your hands day. However, according to about 30 percent of bled when you washed them, would a survey by the American your you overlook it? Bleeding is a sign Dental Association (ADA), teeth’s of . If your only about 49 percent of the U.S. bleed for more than a week after you population reports using this begin flossing, improve your white wound wonder as of- dental hygiene regimen and ten as they should. talk with your dentist or periodon- There are plenty of tist. good reasons to be a sur- ! Dental floss was first manufac- For more flossing fanatic: keeping your faces. Of- tured in 1882 and was made of silk. information teeth, promoting fresh breath ten, periodontal dis- ! You’re never too young to floss. visit and avoiding possible repercus- ease begins between teeth where It’s most important to start flossing www.perio.org sions of periodontal disease such your can’t . your kids’ teeth when the gaps be- or call as increased risk of heart disease ! Americans purchased more tween them close, but starting even 1-800-FLOSS-EM or stroke. Yet, people come up with than 2.7 million miles of dental floss before this helps establish the habit. for the free plenty of excuses to skip this in 1996. However, if all Americans ! Don’t flush the floss! Dental brochure, HOW simple 2-3 minute task. In hopes were flossing every day, more like floss has been known to block sew- TO BRUSH AND of encouraging flossing mania to 27 million miles of floss should ers because it does not disintegrate FLOSS sweep your home, following is have been used. (Hmm, maybe and can wrap around roots, pumps more information than you prob- some of the respondents to the and other obstructions. ! An ounce of floss is worth a pound of prevention

Now that you're committed to cut answer on whether it is better and tooth until you feel light resis- keeping your teeth and protect- to floss then brush, or brush then tance. Repeat this process be- ing your health, you'll want to be floss. However, flossing first may tween every tooth and don't forget sure to floss correctly. loosen plaque, which can then be the back sides of your back teeth. Choosing a floss: The dental brushed away with your toothbrush. If you don't see particles, aisle of your local drugstore of- Step-by-step: Use a piece of don't be disappointed The primary fers an array of choices. Look for floss about 18 inches long. Wind function of dental floss is actually dental floss that has ADA accep- most of the floss around a middle to remove the invisible film of bac- tance. Other than that, choosing finger of one hand and most of the teria that constantly forms between one is mostly a matter of personal rest around a middle finger on the the teeth, causing plaque. preference. Studies have found opposite hand. Gently insert the Flossing options: For people no difference between waxed and floss between the teeth using a with dexterity problems, power unwaxed, tape and cord and ny- back-and-forth motion, guiding the flossers or floss holders may be lon and polymer floss as far as floss with your forefingers. Guide useful. Otherwise, regular floss cleaning capacity. However, for the floss to the gumline and curve works just as well and makes it people with tight spaces between the floss into a C-shape. Slide it easier to make the C-shape teeth, a polymer floss may work into the space between the gum around your teeth. ! best. And, if a flavored floss makes flossing more enjoyable, The American Academy of Patient Page is a public service of the AAP and choose that. should not be used as a substitute for the care and advice of your personal periodontist. There may be variations in treatment that your periodontist will recommend based on individual Floss first? There is not a clear facts and circumstances. Call 1-800-FLOSS-EM for a free brochure on periodontal disease. AAP Patient Page, January/February 2002, Vol. 3, No. 1