How to Floss Back Teeth Properly to Keep Your Mouth Healthy
Did you know only 30% of people floss on a daily basis? Many people don't follow this dentist recommended activity because they don't think it's important to their overall oral health. But the truth is, flossing is necessary to remove the bacteria and buildup that can lead to inflammation, gum disease, and even tooth loss.
Flossing is useless, however, if you don't do it the right way. What's the right way? Well, flossing the right way means knowing how to floss back teeth, which is a tricky thing many people fail to do.
Your Guide to Flossing
Not sure how to floss your teeth correctly? In this article, we'll cover what you need you to know about flossing, so you can keep your smile white and bright and your teeth and gums happy and healthy.
Pick the Right Floss
The first step to flossing effectively is picking the dental floss option that's best for you. There are many types of dental floss options available, such as nylon floss, which is stringy, and PTFE floss, Dentist Alpharetta which can easily glide between tight teeth. The best floss for you will depend on a variety of factors like how wide the gaps in your teeth are or if you have things like veneers or braces.
Not a fan of standard floss? Here are some popular flossing alternatives you can use:
• Hand-held flosser
• Water pick
• Soft pick
• Air flosser
The most important thing is that you pick a flosser you feel comfortable using and that matches your personal preferences.
How to Floss
To start off flossing, you should grab a piece of floss that's between 18 to 24 inches long. Then wrap the ends of the floss around your index and middle finger to make the floss tight enough to pull up trapped food and buildup. Once the floss is ready, you use it in a back and forth, up and down motion against the sides of each tooth to properly clean them.
It doesn't matter which tooth you start with as long as you floss every single one. When you start make sure you floss gently between the tooth and the gum line. It's important to be gentle because if you're not you're more likely to hurt your gums or cause them to bleed.
What About Back Teeth?
While you can get most of the trapped plaque and bacteria by flossing your front teeth, you also need to know how to floss back teeth. If you don't learn how to do this properly or skip it, you run the risk of bacteria sticking to the back gum pockets in your mouth, which will potentially lead to gum disease and tooth decay.
The key to flossing your back teeth is using a longer piece of floss. This provides you with the flexibility to reach the harder to reach spots. If your back teeth are tight or crowded, you may want to use PTFE floss, as it's more durable and less likely to break when sliding between tight teeth.
Final Thoughts on How to Floss Back Teeth
Flossing your back teeth isn't easy, so don't feel frustrated or defeated if you don't get a handle on it right away. Just make sure you don't neglect your back molars because if you do you run the risk gum disease and even tooth decay. But if you floss your back teeth correctly, you can ensure you'll have a happy and healthy smile for years to come!
Are you in need of dental help? Have further questions about flossing or oral health? Contact us now to schedule an appointment!
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