Unwaxed dental floss is a basic strand of nylon or extruded monofilament. Some brands of unwaxed floss also come with flavor additives. The flavoring has absolutely no bearing on the overall effectiveness of the floss.

Waxed dental floss is often made from nylon braid. The waxy coating helps the strand slip easily between teeth and into hard-to-reach places.

Research conducted by the American Dental Association did not find any clinical differences between waxed or unwaxed dental floss when it came to removing residual food particles and plaque from between the teeth and gumline.

When shopping for dental floss, you should always look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance. This seal proves that that brand of dental floss has been researched and tested by the ADA for safety and effectiveness.

If you have questions about what type of floss is right for you, or if you would like help improving your flossing technique, you can call Royse City Dental Care at 972-636-2417 to set up a consultation. Your dentists, Drs. Edmon R. Hutchison, will be more than happy to teach you all about flossing in Royse City, Texas!

The post Understanding Dental Floss first appeared on Royse City Dental Care.

Question: How do I floss?
Answer: Start with 18 inches of floss and wrap most of the floss around each pointer finger. Leave about an inch or two available between your two fingers. Then, use your thumbs and index fingers and slide the floss between your teeth, gently moving it up and down along the sides of your teeth. Next, gently curve the floss around the base of each tooth and move it back and forth. Make sure you do so beneath the gumline but be gentle while you work under and around the gums. Repeat this process between each tooth and remember to use a new section of floss as you proceed from tooth to tooth.

Question: Why is flossing important?
Answer: Flossing is very important because it helps deeply clean your smile and it removes the plaque from your teeth, which essentially saves your smile from gum disease and tooth loss.

Question: What can I use to floss?
Answer: There are many options to consider when flossing. Dental floss, dental picks, pre-threaded flossers, small brushes that successfully clean between teeth, water flossers, or wooden plaque removers are all great choices. There are two common types of floss, which are nylon and PTFE. Nylon floss is available waxed and unwaxed and it is known to come in a variety of flavors. Because the floss is made of nylon, it tends to tear or shred while you floss. PTFE is a more expensive type of floss that slides easily between your teeth without shredding.

Question: What time should I floss?
Answer: As long as you floss at least once a day, it does not matter what time you floss. Many people like to floss right before they go to bed because they like to sleep with a clean mouth, but your preference is all that matters. If you want to floss after lunch or before breakfast, go right ahead!

To learn more about flossing and deeply cleaning your smile, call our office today. We are here to help you reach your smile goals, and we are happy to do so by teaching you all about flossing!

The post Learn How to Clean Your Smile with These Flossing Fundamentals first appeared on Royse City Dental Care.