Dental Flossing: Types, Techniques, and Benefits for Healthy Gums

Dental Flossing

Dental floss was developed by Levi Spear Parmly, a New Orleans dentist.

Dental floss is the most widely recommended tool for removing plaque from proximal tooth surfaces.

Type of Dental Floss

• Twisted or non-twisted
• Bonded or non-bonded
• Waxed or unwaxed
• Thick or thin.

“The Role Of Flossing In Preventing Gum Disease”

Factors Determining the Choice of Dental Floss

• Lightness of tooth contact
• Roughness of proximal surface
• Patients manual dexterity.

“Importance Of Flossing For Oral Health”

Technique

• Spool technique: Recommended for teenagers and adults who have acquired the level o neuromuscular coordination and mental maturity to use floss.
• Loop or circle technique: It is suited for children as well as adults with less nimble hands or handicaps such as poor muscular coordination or arthritis
• The floss must contact the proximal surface from line angle to line angle to clean effectively
• It must clean the entire proximal surface, not just slipped apical to the contact area.

Procedures

• The floss should be at least 12 to 18” long
• It is wrapped around the fingers or ends may be tied together in a loop
• After stretching the floss between thumb and fingers, it gently through each contact area in a back and forth motion
• Once the floss is apical to contact area, move it up along the tooth, till the contact area and down into the sulcus again, this is repeated several times
• Same is repeated on the proximal surfaces of other teeth.

“Risk Factors For Skipping Flossing”

Floss Holder

• Flossing can be made easier by using a floss holder.
• Floss holder is indicated in patient with low manual dexterity for handicapped and hospitalized patient.
• Disadvantages of floss holders. They are more time consuming.

Dental Tape

It is a flat and wider dental floss, it is recommended for cleaning of Class 1 and Class 2 embrasures.

“Understanding The Benefits Of Flossing For Gum Health”

Power Flosser

They remove the biofilm, reduce gingivitis and bleeding and is similar to manual floss.

Specialized Floss

• These flosses consist of thin, stiff and soft, flat sections within the 1% length.
• Thin flosses are used in the areas of tight contact and where sharp edges of filling are absent.
• Wide ribbon-like flosses provide greater contact surface with enamel for removing plaque.
• Wax floss slide easily between tight contacts.
• Unwaxed dental floss is better than waxed as its diameter is small and is passed easily through tight contacts. It makes squeaking noise when it is used over clean tooth surface

“Comprehensive Overview Of Dental Floss Types And Uses”

Functions of Dental Floss

• Removal of adherent plaque and food debris from interproximal areas.
• Polishing of the tooth surface after the oral prophylaxis
• Stimulating and massaging interdental papillae.
• It helps to locate the subgingival calculus deposit, overhanging margins of restoration and the proximal carious lesions.
• It improves oral hygiene.
• It also act as vehicle for application of polishing or therapeutic agents to interdental and subgingival area and decreases the gingival bleeding.