How To Use Dental Floss Correctly?

Most people floss only once a day, and many even less often. It is very important that you use the correct way to floss, in order to remove as much dental plaque as possible. The recommended flossing methods are described here : 

1. Break off about 45-50 cm of floss and wind most of it (~30 cm) around one of your middle fingers. 

2. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty. 

3. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers, leaving ~3cm of floss between your hands

4. Guide the dental floss to the space between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums to avoid injuries.

5. When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth. 

6. Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up and down motions.  

7. Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth. Don't forget the back side of your last tooth.

8. It is important that you wash your mouth with water or mouthwash after flossing your teeth, so the debris you have loosened up is rinsed out of your mouth.

9. If the dental floss starts to get stuck in a spot where it didn't in the past, you should visit your dentist as it could be a sign of tooth decay.

You should also introduce your children to dental floss early so that they become accustomed to the correct way of flossing teeth.

Source : http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/abyss/dep1345.htm
Video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn2JyrNKK4Y