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How
to Floss:
Choose a dental floss that does not shred or
fray and isn't so thin it cuts the gum or can't be guided gently down
and around the sides of your teeth. If you have teeth that are
very close together, try a floss made of Gore-Tex®. It costs
a bit more, but it slips more easily between tight teeth and will not
tear on sharp
edges.
- Break off about 18 inches
of floss and wind most of it around the middle finger of one hand and
the rest around the other middle finger.
- Holding the floss between
your thumbs and forefingers, guide it between two teeth by gently
rubbing it back and forth.
- When the floss reaches
the gum line, curve it around one of the teeth
and gently slide it back and forth in the crevice between the tooth and
the gum.
- Holding the floss tightly
against the side of the tooth, rub gently up and down.
- Repeat for each tooth,
including the backside of your last teeth, changing to a different part
of the floss as you go along. If you
have difficulty
using floss or have bridgework, a floss threader may help.
Special picks, small brushes, and other interdental cleaners are handy
for wide spaces between teeth. Standard toothpicks should never be used
for regular hygiene.
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