When you visit Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh at Fresh Meadows Dental Care for a professional cleaning, do you fib about your flossing habits? You might think that you can avoid problems like gum disease just by brushing your teeth alone. However, this is not the case. It’s true that proper flossing removes plaque and food particles in places where a toothbrush cannot easily reach, but plaque build-up can lead to tooth decay and gum disease if not practiced at least twice a day.
To receive maximum benefits from flossing, use the following proper technique:
- 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 for the rest of your teeth and don’t forget the back ones!
If you have questions regarding your oral hygiene routine, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.freshmeadowsdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh of Fresh Meadows Dental Care in Oakland Gardens, NY, call 718-224-7272.
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