Is All Floss the Same?

            Just like there are different styles of toothbrushes and toothpastes, there are a number of different types of floss available depending on your dental needs. For most teeth, the traditional thin, waxed floss will do the trick. But for anyone cleaning around bridges, braces, or areas of gum and bone loss, there are some other options that can help keep your teeth and gums healthy.

            For anyone ever tasked with keeping the tissue around a dental bridge clean, they know that regular floss doesn’t always do the trick. Superfloss is designed with yarn around the floss to better clean larger spaces. After threading it under the bridge, it can then be used like traditional floss to clean the area under the bridge. For areas that have historically been an area of irritation, Superfloss can make things easier in keeping tough to clean areas healthy.

            A floss threader is a great tool for anyone with braces or a permanent retainer. The threader itself is not a type of floss, but instead is used to place the floss under or around wires and brackets on the teeth. The floss is placed through a loop in the threader, and the threader is then guided into difficult to reach places. For anyone that has braces or a permanent retainer, the floss threader is the easiest, fastest and most effective way to keep your gums and teeth healthy.

            Another popular adjunct or substitute for floss is a proxybrush or soft pick. These are small, flexible, tapered bristles that are used to fit between small and wide spaces to dislodge food and clean the gums. They can prove very helpful around bridges, braces, implants, and otherwise hard to reach and clean places.

            Whether you are using traditional floss or a combination of products, it is important to come up with a plan for you. With so many different options, be sure to talk with your dentist or dental hygienist about how to properly use each product and which ones will work best in your situation.

For more information, go to www.brownandkupper.com.

 

Lee T. Brown, DDS

Brown and Kupper, DDS Inc.

(513) 860-3660