January 28, 2008

Waxed or weaved, which floss is best?

Which is the best to use when flossing waxed or weaved floss? What is the difference between the two?  Which one is believed to be the best?

Flossing is a very important thing when it comes to dental hygiene. Dental floss helps remove the debris that is caught in between teeth. Flossing also helps remove plaque. Plaque is formed of bacteria on teeth and get in between teeth. If plaque is not removed by flossing it hardens into what is considered tartar. If tartar forms, one can get gingivitis. Gingivitis is a gum disease that causes inflammation of gums and will cause soreness and bleeding. If one flosses it helps break up the bacteria also known as plaque so tartar does not form.

Waxed floss is made of either nylon or also known as multifilament floss or PTFE which is monofilament floss. When using waxed nylon floss it has a tendency to get caught in ones teeth if your teeth are crooked or crowded together. This causes the waxed nylon floss to get stuck and or snagged and usually tears or shreds.

Waxed PTFE floss is better to use if one has crowded or crooked teeth. Waxed floss glides through crowded or crooked teeth without getting stuck or snagged. Just like waxed nylon floss weaved floss does not glide through crowded or crooked teeth easily either. Weaved floss usually gets stuck or snagged and usually tears or shreds.
Waxed dental floss also comes in variety of flavors. It comes in flavors from mint, cinnamon, to bubble gum depending on ones preference. 

Weaved dental floss can be more helpful when you have straight teeth. It is stronger than some of the single stranded waxed dental flosses. If your teeth are straight or are not crowded together weaved floss should glide through without any problems. It might squeak do to the fact that is does not have any wax on it to coat the strands.

It all comes down to preference in the long run. Waxed dental floss might work better for one person because the way their teeth are situated it might be easier to handle and glide through their teeth with out getting stuck or breaking. Others might prefer weaved dental floss because their teeth allow the floss to maneuver through their teeth just fine because of how their teeth are situated. 

Just remember to floss no matter what type of floss you decide to go with. Brushing your teeth is not enough. Flossing helps reduce your risk of getting cavities. Flossing your teeth helps with preventing bad breath. Flossing also helps prevent against gum disease such as gingivitis. Try waxed dental floss and then try weaved dental floss. Try a couple different brands of both waxed floss and weaved and decide which one works the best for you. Less expensive flosses might not have as many stands or might have more wax than they do actually strands of floss. Make sure to watch out and pick the best weaved or waxed floss for your money. Don't worry about using to much waxed or weaved floss when flossing. If more gets you to floss that is all that matters.

When it comes down to what floss is better weaved floss or waxed floss it is person preference. So get out there and find the right dental floss that works best for you whether it be waxed or weaved floss.

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April 16, 2007

5 tips for flossing when you have sensitive gums

Sometimes people have sensitive gums because they are new to flossing. If you do not floss regularly you will find that your gums are more sensitive when you first start flossing. If you continue to floss on a regular basis the sensitivity to your gums will go away. If your gums are sensitive in general, flossing might be the last thing on your mind. Here are 5 tips for flossing if you have sensitive gums that will hopefully help make flossing a more positive experience.

Tip #1 Find what kind of floss works for you the best. One of the worst things is to have floss that doesn't work well with your teeth and gums. Having the right kind of floss will help you not have to floss so much. For example maybe you are using a dental floss that doesn't glide very easy through your teeth. Instead of just flossing once over an area the floss gets stuck and then it shreds and you have to get a new piece of floss. Then you have to start over in the same area to make sure you got the plaque and debris out. So you now have gone over the area twice instead of just once. If you have sensitive gums you will cringe at the fact of having to go over the area again and again. So make sure to get a dental floss that works well with your mouth and is not doing more harm then good.

Tip #2 Use dental floss that has some kind of coating on it. This will help slide easily between your teeth. Using dental floss that has a coating will help protect your gums from more traumas then needed.

Tip #3 Another thing to use is a floss holder. Instead of flossing the regular way by wrapping a piece of floss around your fingers, use a floss holder. This will help you guide the dental floss better. There are also floss holders out there that will vibrate helping to vibrate off debris and other bacteria's that might be sticking to your teeth. This way you can hold the dental floss steady and make sure you don't disrupt your gums more than you have to.

Tip #4 Do not use a tooth pick as a alternative method of flossing. Using a tooth pick or any other kind of object like a tooth pick will do more damage than it will good. Tooth picks can tear delicate gum tissues and may damage existing dental work that has already been restored.

Tip #5 If you find it too painful to floss because you do have sensitive gums you can use a flossing alternative such as a water pick or can also be referred to as a irrigator. Water picks use tiny bursts of water that help blast away food particles and other debris in your mouth in those hard to reach places.

Even if you have sensitive gums, it is no excuse not to floss or do an alternative to flossing. Flossing is a very important thing to do. With out flossing your gums can get infected and inflamed. You can get gum diseases. So make sure to find solution that works for you. Even if you have to use a water pick. Make sure that you are not making excuses for not flossing just because you have sensitive gums.

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April 9, 2007

5 Things to consider when choosing a dental floss

There are many things to consider when you are choosing a dental floss. You want to make sure that you choose the right kind of dental floss that will work well with your gums and your teeth. But what certain things need to be considered before choosing a dental floss? Here are 5 things to consider when choosing a dental floss to insure that you make the right choice.

The first thing you will want to consider when choosing a dental floss is, do you want a waxed or a weaved dental floss? If you have teeth that are very close together or crowded or if you have crooked teeth you might want to consider choosing a waxed dental floss. Waxed dental floss glides easier through crowded close together teeth or crooked teeth better than just a normal non-waxed dental floss does. Waxed dental floss is usually a little bit more durable so it doesn't break off in between your teeth as easy as a normal dental floss would.

The second thing to consider is if you have bigger gaps in between your teeth you may want to consider choosing a tape dental floss. A tape dental floss is different from other dental floss because it is thicker.

The third thing to consider is when choosing a dental floss is if you want it flavored or non-flavored. This is a person preference. Having flavored or non-flavored dental floss does not effect flossing in any way. It is just whether or not you prefer it. Dental floss comes in a variety of flavors. From mint to cinnamon to even bubble gum. The flavor is up to you.

The fourth thing to consider when choosing a dental floss is if you have a disability of some sort you might want to consider buying dental floss that is in a preloaded holder. This type of dental floss has a handle that is made out of plastic so you can floss your teeth without having to maneuver around a lot. There are also power flossers that make the job of flossing even easier.

The fifth thing to consider when choosing dental floss is what brand. There are many brands out there. Make sure to compare different dental flosses and decide on the one that works that best for you. The brand is all a personal preference also. A brand that might work for one person might not work for the next because of the shape and structure of people's mouths can be so different. You also want to make sure when choosing a dental floss that it is ADA approved. Insuring that your dental floss is ADA approved means that the American Dental Associations has approved it and it has met the assurance and criteria for safety and acceptance from the American Dental Association.

All dental floss does the same things it flosses your teeth. It is just up to you to consider the dental floss that is the easiest for you to use and which one meshes well with your teeth.

If you have any doubt about choosing a dental floss, ask your dentist. Your dentist has looked and examined your mouth and knows in great detail all about your mouth. Because your dentist has seen your mouth up close and in such detail that asking your dentist about what to consider when choosing a dental floss would be very helpful. The dentist can help you decide based on the structure of your mouth and placement of your teeth what to look for in dental flosses before choosing one.

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