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What is Woven Floss?
Dental floss comes in several varieties, all designed to help a person remove food particles and plaque from between his teeth. Some types, such as woven floss, may be more effective at cleaning teeth while being more gentle to the gums than regular waxed floss. Woven floss consists of several pieces of thread that are twisted together.
Although most people recognize that flossing their teeth is a good way to prevent gum disease and tooth loss, many do not like to do it. Some have sensitive gums and find that flossing makes their gums bleed. Since it is made of a softer material, woven floss does not irritate the gums as much, especially if a person uses it correctly. It is important that a person does not dig the floss into his gums or snap it between his teeth.
Using woven floss will help improve a person's gums. A person who flosses daily may notice that his gums do not bleed as much after a few weeks, since the floss has removed built up tartar. Woven floss may remove more plaque and tartar than waxed ribbon floss, since it is designed to expand in the areas between a person's teeth.
When a person pulls the floss out of the container, it resembles a piece of embroidery floss that consists of two or more loosely braided threads. The threads may be bi-colored. Since woven floss is generally made of cotton, its threads are slightly fibrous and are able to scrape the sides of teeth clean. The cotton thread also makes the floss soft and gentle.
The floss is slightly puffy but thins out when a person pulls it tight between his fingers. After he slides the floss in between two teeth, a person should loosen the tautness of it, so that the woven floss expands and fills the area. Its ability to stretch makes it suitable for a person with closely spaced together teeth.
Woven floss should be used in the same way that any other floss would be. Dentists recommend using 18 inches and wrapping the two ends around the middle finger of each hand. A person should grasp the floss with his thumb and index finger on each hand, so that two inches of floss is between his fingers. Pulling the floss taut, he should slide it between two teeth, moving it in a saw-like motion against the sides of teeth.
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![Woven floss may irritate the gums less than regular waxed floss.]()
By: Stephen CoburnWoven floss may irritate the gums less than regular waxed floss. -
![Woven floss may remove more plaque and tarter than waxed ribbon floss.]()
By: yanmingzhangWoven floss may remove more plaque and tarter than waxed ribbon floss. -
![Teeth should be flossed daily, despite professional cleaning sessions.]()
By: Laurentiu IordacheTeeth should be flossed daily, despite professional cleaning sessions. -
![A comprehensive oral hygiene regimen can help prevent periodontal disease.]()
By: CandyBox ImagesA comprehensive oral hygiene regimen can help prevent periodontal disease. -
![Flossing the teeth is a good way to prevent gum disease and tooth loss.]()
By: Igor GromoffFlossing the teeth is a good way to prevent gum disease and tooth loss. -
![A dental hygienist can teach patients the proper techniques for flossing and maintaining healthy teeth.]()
By: ruigsantosA dental hygienist can teach patients the proper techniques for flossing and maintaining healthy teeth. -
![Dentists typically recommend using 18 inches of dental floss.]()
By: vetkitDentists typically recommend using 18 inches of dental floss. -
![Regularly flossing the teeth may remove debris and prevent decay from forming deep below the gum line.]()
By: Andrey ArmyagovRegularly flossing the teeth may remove debris and prevent decay from forming deep below the gum line.
Discussion Comments
@everetra - The back teeth are hardest for me. That’s where the teeth are more closely compacted together. I find that I have to pull the tooth floss really tight and pull up and down.
It’s important that you wrap the floss around the teeth and scrape up and down. My dentist tells me to let the floss “bounce” into the gum line to stimulate the gums as I am cleaning.
That’s always the question he asks me in each visit when I tell him that I am flossing. He says, “Do you get beneath the gum line?” Anything less than this is not effective flossing.
@NathanG - Unfortunately I have gum disease. I didn’t take care of my teeth properly when I was a kid. So I am paying the price for it now, trying to do all the brushing and flossing that I should have done years ago.
I do agree that the woven floss is better though. It does reduce bleeding and I also use the floss picks as well.
What the floss picks do is that they stimulate the gums and they are also easier to use for removing particles that won’t be dislodged from other kinds of floss.
I floss every day and use mint woven floss, although I have tried other brands. I like the woven floss because it is better at cleaning my teeth. The waxed floss feels slippery, like it’s not really cleaning my teeth but gliding over them. The woven floss is much better.
However, I would like to offer one bit of advice. The way to get the really best results from flossing is to massage your gums before you floss. Do this vigorously.
As you massage your gums they will become stronger and you’ll find that it’s easier to remove food particles from between your teeth. I do this and it helps a lot, especially in reducing the bleeding. If I just floss without massaging I can get a lot of bleeding sometimes.
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