In foreign countries, children are required to use dental floss after dinner since childhood, because dental floss plays a very good role in maintaining oral health. Will dental floss widen the gap between teeth? Today, I'll popularize some knowledge about dental floss for you.
1. Why is dental floss so important?
In fact, if you just brush your teeth, a lot of harmful bacteria will accumulate in the place where some toothbrushes can't reach and the adjacent surface of teeth, especially a small amount of food residue embedded between teeth and gums can't be thoroughly cleaned. But if you don't clean up these foods, it's easy to cause bacteria to grow. After a long time, these bacteria will form plaque and eventually become dental calculus, causing gum disease and even dental caries. The initial symptoms may be pain, swelling or bleeding in your gums when you brush your teeth, but in the long run, it can lead to gingivitis, or even periodontitis, a serious gum disease known as periodontitis.
Brushing your teeth can remove food debris and tartar from the surface of your teeth, but that's not enough. You still need floss to help clean the plaque between your teeth. Dental floss can easily reach the narrow crevices which are difficult to reach when brushing, gargling and picking teeth. It can effectively remove the food residue, dental plaque and soft tartar between the teeth, and does not damage the gums, so it is safe and reliable. So for the sake of oral health of you and your family, understand and use dental floss correctly.
2. When to floss?
At the beginning of flossing, many people may ask: is it better to floss in the morning or at night? Before or after brushing? In fact, flossing in the morning or at night depends on you, and some people like to use it before going to bed, because it can keep a clean oral environment before going to bed. As for whether to floss before or after brushing, the official guidance of the American Dental Association is that flossing before or after brushing really doesn't matter. However, flossing before brushing can help clear the space between the teeth, allowing fluoride in toothpaste to cover and penetrate more. Whether to floss before or after brushing, you must have made the right choice.
3. Will flossing make the gap between teeth bigger?
Flossing doesn't make the gap bigger. The feeling is bigger because the existing gap has been covered by dental calculus before, just like the fence in the snow. When the snow melts, the prototype of that part is exposed. Gingival atrophy is the inevitable result of long-term periodontal disease without timely treatment. Floss doesn't have that much ability, floss doesn't have that much sin.
4. How to choose dental floss?
There are many kinds of dental floss in the shop, but which one is more suitable for your teeth? In fact, it doesn't matter which type of dental floss you use, as long as you use it. Choose a floss you like that won't damage your gums, and use it to clean your teeth at least once a day.
a. Waxless dental floss: suitable for people who don't have tight teeth.
b. Wax floss: if your teeth are tight, wax floss is easier to slip into.
c. Flat dental floss: this kind of thick ribbon flat dental floss is mainly designed for those who have wide crevices.
d. Super floss: if the gap between your teeth is different, this kind of elastic floss is more suitable for you. When the floss is straightened and thinned, the normal gap between teeth can be cleared. When the floss is straightened and thinned, the floss will become thicker when it is relaxed, and the wider gap can be cleared. e. Floss stick: if it's not convenient to floss with both hands or you can't reach your innermost teeth, you can also choose it.
f. Special floss: it is divided into hard part, fiber part and ordinary floss part. It is specially used for special people who wear fixed appliance and fixed bridge repair.