Posted

at Riverside Dental Group.

Questions

Q1. True or false – Dental floss is sometimes made out of carbon fiber.

Q2. True or false – A good flossing substitute for people with bridgework is dental tape.

Q3. True or false – Only 10% of Americans floss at least once a day?

Q4. True or false – You should always avoid the sensitive gumline when flossing.

Q5. True or false – A waterpick is a good substitute for flossing.

Answers

A1. FALSE – Waxed, unwaxed, and Teflon are all types of dental floss. Carbon fiber is a strong material that is used for many things, including commercial airplane manufacturing, but not dental floss.

A2. True – Also known as wide floss, dental tape is good for anyone with wider-than-average gaps between teeth.

A3. FALSE – It’s actually 49 percent of people in the United States that floss as recommended by their dentist. This number is still far too low.

A4. FALSE – When flossing, start with approximately 18 inches of floss that you will wind around fingers on each hand. Hold tightly to the floss, allowing about an inch between your hands to be guided between teeth. You should use a gentle sawing motion to guide the floss all the way to the gumline. Curve the floss around the tooth and scrape the side as you bring the floss down.

A5. FALSE – Waterpicks do not remove plaque, and are mainly effective for people with braces that need to remove food particles from the brackets and wires in their mouth.

Visit Your Riverside Dentists

If you have any general dentistry needs or questions, your Riverside dentists would be happy to see you for a consultation. We are happy to offer comprehensive dentistry for the whole family. If you are due for a dental checkup or cleaning, or you have any sort of preventive, cosmetic, or restorative concerns, contact our 92506 dentist office at (951) 369-1001. We serve patients throughout Riverside County.