Can dental floss make gaps between teeth bigger?

In life, many people are willing to pick their teeth with toothpicks after meals to remove residues in their mouths

The popular toothpicks, large, sharp and hard at the tip, are very easy to damage our gum tissue, and are also poorly effective in removing plaque between teeth.

This is not the case with dental floss.

Why use dental floss again? It's because of plaque again! Yes, plaque again

Dental plaque, also known as dental plaque biofilm, is mainly composed of bacteria in the oral cavity, bacterial metabolites and food residues, which can adhere to the surface of our teeth, soft tissues in the oral cavity and various restorations

Caries can cause large cavities in the teeth, while gingivitis and periodontitis can cause red, swollen and bleeding gums, increased gaps between teeth, and even loose teeth

Experiments have found that the most effective ways to remove plaque are brushing, flossing, interdental brushing, and gargling

Regular brushing twice a day can only remove 40% to 60% of dental plaque.

The correct way to brush your teeth is already familiar to everyone, so let's talk about how to use dental floss correctly

Whether you choose a box of bulk floss or a finished floss arch, hold and taut the floss and place the floss parallel to your teeth so that the floss can easily enter the space between your teeth

After pulling the floss gently to the target position for cleaning, it is close to the tooth surface on one side, and lift it up gently.

Finally, after eating, it is recommended that you rinse your mouth with water to remove large pieces of food residue and soft dirt, and then use dental floss, interdental brush, etc.

Text/Qiu Jingyi (Beijing Shijitan Hospital)