How and when should a patient use dental floss?

Question

Hello doctor,

I went to the dental clinic to clean my tooth as I had plaque and bleeding gums. After the treatment, the doctor prescribed me a mouthwash and dental floss. I would like to know if flossing is absolutely necessary every day. Do all the people in the world use dental floss? What are the uses of dental floss, and why should I use it? How and when should I use dental floss?

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

The scaling procedure usually ends with oral hygiene instructions, including proper ways of brushing using an interdental brush, flossing, and using a mouthwash. It is not compulsory to use dental floss, but it is necessary in case of crowded teeth because the food particles get deposited in the spaces between the teeth. In that case, normal brushing is not enough, and dental floss or interdental brushes must be used. If the teeth are normally arranged, dental floss can be used as a preventive measure.

The usage of dental floss varies according to the necessity. I suggest you use it daily at night after brushing. Floss should be used in the interdental spaces in to and fro motion, but do it softly and not more than two minutes. Mostly, it will not cause any bleeding if you do it softly. Mild bleeding will gradually stop, but excess bleeding occurs due to gingival infection. In this case, stop dental flossing and undergo scaling. Mostly after scaling, you will not have excess bleeding.

I hope this has helped you.

Thank you.