We received an email from a concerned patient today. He was confused because he had heard somewhere that you should only be flossing one time per day, not after every meal which was his usual routine. Here was Dr. Webb's response...
Greetings,
I recommend you floss at least once per day. As long as you are flossing correctly you will not do any damage by flossing more than once per day. You should avoid a sawing, back and forth, motion which can cause enamel wear. An up and down motion is preferred and will not cause damage. If you have areas where food gets trapped easily, you may need to floss more than once per day. If your teeth contact very tightly then once per day is probably fine. Here are some instructions on correct flossing from the American Dental Association's website:
How do I floss my teeth?
- Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.
- Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.
- When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.
- Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up and down motions.
- Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth.
- Don't forget the back side of your last tooth.
Hope this helps!
Sincerely,
