How do you floss? Btw this is not trolling I just have never been taught before.!


Question: How do you floss? Btw this is not trolling I just have never been taught before.?
So I'm 14, and the dentist said I need to start flossing as my teeth r in terrible shape. He asked me if I knew how to and I said yes cos I was embarrassed to admit it. My teeth r in such bad ways, I need 10 teeth pulled, 4 root canals, 5 cavities and 5 crowns and I have gum disease so I know I need to. Some of my adult teeth have already fallen out. I just really don't know where to start with flossing???

Answers:

Hello
first of all start brushing 2 times a day with a soft headed tooth brush for 2-3 minutes each time. Do not brush too hard as you can then damage your teeth( brush away the enamel) and gums( brush them away, make them recede) over time. Start flossing once a day at night just before bed as this removes plaque and food your tooth brush cannot reach from in between your teeth and gum line. Your gums will bleed to start as they are already inflamed from now flossing. When plaque gets below the gum line and hardens( hard plaque is called tartar) it causes inflammation and gum disease. So flossing will remove the plaque and over time reverse gum disease. So keep flossing once a day even though your gums will bleed to start. It will stop within a few days. Use a good quality tooth paste to brush your teeth with such as Colgate Total which will help stop further tooth decay.

Another part of looking after your teeth and gums is eating healthy tooth kind foods. Cut right back on sugar as sugar causes plaque and plaque causes tooth decay and of course gum disease. Also avoid acidic foods and drinks as they can weaken your tooth enamel . Things such as fizzy drinks and oranges and fruit juices. Still have them but in moderation. I used to drink 4 cans of Diet Lemonade a day and now drink 2-3 cans a week instead. Eat tooth kind foods that will help your teeth and gums get stronger and then stay stronger. Things such as milk, fresh veggies, yogurt, fish and meat and apples and non acidic fruits.

I also use a mouth wash every night called Colgate Fluorigard which hardens the tooth enamel and helps prevent tooth decay by 40%. I use this after flossing and brushing just before bedtime.

You are taking the right step with your teeth and I was in your position in the past with needing loads of work doing. Do not worry and once all the problems are sorted you can have healthy teeth. I now do and look after my teeth really well.

I now floss my teeth every night and use a floss called Crest Glide as it does not break or fray and is easy to use. Be gentle when you floss and you will be fine. See the guide below to see how you should be flossing.

http://www.dental-picture-show.com/tooth…

Hope this helps and take care

myself



Why are your teeth so bad a t14?? Try to take care of them. With flossing you need a pretty long piece of floss. Wrap it around both of your middle finger tips(not too tight) Just go in and press the floss between the teeth and pull out.If you cannot pull it out, slide it out of the side. Brush at least twice a day and after meals, candy, soda etc.Limit soda drinking and candy.Chew sugar free gum.Hope all this helps!! Good Luck!!

Reg Dental Assistant



Get a piece of dental floss and slide it between two teeth. The pull it side to side (in a sort of sawing motion) to get rid of the dirt between your teeth. It's best to floss before brushing, morning and night :)

These are links to a website to explain it better (:
http://dentistry.about.com/od/basicdenta…

Also, if you go on youtube and just search "how to floss" there are some videos explaining it, it might help to see :)




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