Floss comes in a variety of materials and colours but essentially it is a very thin cord you hold between your fingers of each hand and insert between adjoining teeth. The cord, or floss, helps loosen debris by gently moving it up and down and back and forth between the teeth. Flossing has proven to be a great method for loosening debris from hard to reach surfaces of your teeth and gum lines. This is the next best step to brushing.
Another great benefit of flossing is the increase of blood circulation in your gums. Gum stimulation is a necessary means of keeping your gum tissue healthy and strong. Gums are the foundation of your teeth. Typically; it is recommended that you floss your teeth once a day. Many people find that flossing at night to be an easier routine, just before bed, and the bonus is that it helps protect your teeth during sleeping, when harmful plaque can do a lot of damage.
There are different types of dental floss. They come in different colours, flavours and materials. Waxed varieties are slipperier, allowing people with extremely light spaces between their teeth to floss more easily. Popular flavours of floss include: wintergreen and cinnamon. Waxed floss does tend to fray more than unwaxed floss. A type of material called wide floss can be also effective for people with large spaces between their teeth, or for people with delicate bridge work.
Floss can be purchased in small, self-dispensing boxes. Floss can also be purchased in special, single-use holders, a useful invention for people who have a hard time wrapping floss around their fingers, including those with dexterity problems or arthritis.
