Fun Facts about Dental Floss

Fun Facts about Dental Floss

 Did you know that National Flossing Day is the day after Thanksgiving?

Over 3 million miles of dental floss are purchased in North America each year!

 Flossing should require the average person 122 yards per year, but sales show we use only 18 yards.

 Brushing teeth without flossing is like only washing 70% of your body.

 

Flossing is essential to the health your teeth and gums when you’re wearing braces.  We know it’s tough enough to get kids to floss everyday without braces and it becomes even a bigger battle when braces are involved.  Flossing with braces can be tricky, with all those wires getting in the way, but it is not impossible. It can take people with braces three times longer to floss, but we have some pointers to help speed things up.

• Use A floss threader. It is a small, plastic needle that will help you floss between the wires and your teeth. Thread a 12-to-18-inch piece of floss onto the needle, and use the needle to get the floss easily behind the wires.

• Flossing Under the Wires. Once the floss is behind the wires, use your hands to manipulate the floss. Move it up and down along the wires to remove food particles.

• Flossing Between Your Teeth. Floss between your teeth as you normally would without braces. Move the floss up and down between your teeth, using a clean section of floss for each tooth.

• After You Finish Flossing. Use a water pik or proxy brush after you finish brushing. Either of these tools will help remove any loosened food particles to ensure that your teeth and braces are clean.

 It should not be a struggle to floss when you have braces; braces are supposed to improve your oral health, not make it more difficult to maintain!  If you pick up the right materials, your dental care routine will be quick and effective.