Flossing: An important part of teeth cleaning.

There’s no doubt brushing your teeth twice a day is essential to maintain good oral hygiene, however, it does not eliminate all your gunk and plaque on its own. Flossing is a crucial part of good dental hygiene as it allows you to remove plaque from parts of your mouth that are difficult to access, such as tight spaces. The following are some of the importance of dental floss :

1. Eliminates plaque: Plaque can form and accumulate around your teeth, and if it gets hard enough, it can also transform into tartar, which builds up along the gum line. If this happens there is a risk that you may develop gum disease. With regular flossing, you can not only remove stuck food particles from your teeth but also remove built-up plaque between the small gaps of your teeth.
2. Reduces cavities: The plaque that has been accumulating on the enamel of your teeth may increase the risk of development of a cavity. Flossing your teeth can help remove the tiny food particles and plaque buildup lowering the risk of cavities and tooth decay.
3. Reduces bad breath: Food particles that become lodged between your teeth have a greater chance of decaying over time, which can leave your breath smelling nasty. But adding floss in teeth cleaning can help keep your bad breath away.

Types of dental floss.

There are various dental floss types each with their own benefits and weaknesses that can help to maintain your oral hygiene. Below are some of the most common types of dental floss:

1. Unwaxed floss: Unwaxed floss is the most common type of dental floss that looks like a sewing thread but is kind of thicker and more durable. Most people prefer this floss as it slides easily between their teeth. However, they are highly prone to shredding which means if you have chipped teeth, tartar build-up, untreated tooth decay, and overhanging fillings then it can be tough to complete flossing without tearing through the floss.
2. Waxed floss: Waxed floss does not shred easily unlike unwaxed floss and is suitable for people who are not able to keep their unwaxed floss in a single piece while flossing. However, the wax makes the floss a little bit thicker, and because of this, it can be more difficult to manipulate than the kind that does not contain wax.
3. Dental tape: Dental tape is a thick and flat strip of floss that is extremely strong and is ideal for people who have large gaps between their teeth. But they may not work well enough for people having tightly spaced teeth.
4. Super floss: In comparison to standard floss, super floss is very thick and suitable for cleaning around braces, dental bridges, and other dental prosthesis in your mouth. But people who do not wear any dental prosthetics may find this floss difficult to work with.
5. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) floss: PTFE floss is also known as silk floss which is made of material similar to Gore-Tex fabric. These types of floss are highly resistant to shredding and easily slide between the tight spaces of your teeth. PTFE floss is considered the best dental floss however they can be more expensive compared to a standard floss.