Welcome to my site! My name is Verity. I work as a receptionist in a dentist office. Every day for the past 20 years, I have come in to the office, worked on paperwork, and greeted patients. I love my job, because it has helped me meet a lot of really wonderful people. I have seen families grow up! But an added benefit from my job is that I have also picked up some small information about dentistry. I'm not one of the dentists, but I do know quite a bit about simple procedures and basic dental hygiene. Hopefully this blog can teach you something, but remember to always consult with your actual dentist for real professional advice!
About Verity Longpar
How To Floss Your Teeth Properly
Eleanor Crawford
Flossing is an important part of maintenance on teeth and should be done on a daily basis to keep your mouth clean. Flossing helps to remove food particles that get stuck in between teeth and eventually develop into bacteria that erode teeth. Knowing the proper way to floss can be learned by following the steps outlined below.
1 - Start by taking a few inches of dental floss and wrapping it around your index finger. This will allow you to pull the floss tight when needed, and will prevent the floss from coming loose from your grasp.
2 - Move the loose end of the floss to your thumb to clutch it along with the piece wrapped to the index finger.
3 - Gently slide the floss in between your teeth starting at the bottom of your mouth. Move the floss gently up and down the tooth allowing it to curve with the contour of the tooth. Move down around the gum line and back up the other of the tooth next to it. Do not force the floss in between your teeth, as you could chip a tooth or cut your gums.
4 - Pull the floss out gently and remove any contaminants that are attached to the floss.
5 - Unravel the floss to find a new clean spot on the line of floss. If necessary, tie the floss back around the index finger, and then repeat the steps starting on the next tooth. Move from the front of the mouth to the back before switching to the teeth located on the roof of the mouth. Make sure that the space between every tooth is properly flossed before finishing.
6 - Hold the mouthwash inside your mouth for thirty seconds to a minute, while swishing it around to hit any areas that contain leftover food bacteria. Gargle at the back of your mouth with the mouthwash and then gently spit the mouthwash into the sink.
Please note that when flossing the gums may start to bleed, which is completely normal. You can rinse your mouth out with warm salt water when this happens to help stop the bleeding. If the bleeding becomes a regular thing, you should consult with your dentist to find a solution. A professional dentist can look at your teeth and clean up the gum lines to get bacteria that are not removed by regular flossing and brushing. Contact a clinic like Family & Cosmetic Dentistry for more information.
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