In general, flossing is safer and more hygienic. Some counterfeit dental floss brands on the market use industrial hydrogen peroxide for bleaching, which can be very harmful to the body. Doctors recommend using genuine dental floss. Dental floss is usually disposable and should not be reused. This is because dirt and bacteria on used floss cannot be removed by conventional methods (such as rinsing with water). Reusing floss can be harmful rather than beneficial.
The correct way to floss is as follows:
1. Take a section of dental floss approximately 25-30 cm long. Wrap it around and tighten it between the middle fingers of both hands, using the pads of your thumbs and index fingers to control the floss.
2. Place the floss between the teeth, gently press against the gums, and pull it back and forth to smoothly slide it into the gaps between the teeth. Be gentle, as this can easily damage the gums.
3. Once the floss is in the gaps between the teeth, tighten the floss on the adjacent tooth surfaces, forming a slight C-shape and scraping it up and down. Simultaneously move both fingers up and down, then pull the floss out from the biting surface. Repeat these steps until you have cleaned the adjacent surfaces of each tooth.
4. After cleaning all teeth, slowly pull out the floss.
Daily flossing not only protects your teeth but also prevents harmful bacteria from entering your bloodstream through gingivitis, thereby reducing your risk of heart disease. After meals, spend about ten minutes carefully cleaning each tooth. Proper brushing and flossing are very effective in preventing diseases such as cavities, tartar, and periodontitis.