What's The Deal With All These Dental Flosses?
When the time comes to buy dental floss at your local drugstore, you may feel overwhelmed at the different options to choose from on the shelf. Some may seem like a good alternative that is going to make your flossing better, and others you shouldn't be using at all, depending on your individual dental needs. By understanding the differences between these flossing products you can make sure you don't purchase the wrong thing.
Unwaxed Vs. Waxed Dental Floss
The wax floss typically has a light coat of carnauba wax that makes it much easier for users to move the floss between the tight spaces of their teeth, while the unwaxed does not.
The wax is not supposed to flake off when using the product, but don't worry if it does. Wax used in applications like this will be non-toxic. Wax is even used in the medication acetaminophen, so don't worry about wax residue left in your mouth. The wax can start to flake off, which isn't dangerous, but might be annoying to some people. If the wax flakes become too much of an annoyance to you, you can either throw away the floss when it starts to flake or you can switch to unwaxed floss. Some people prefer unwaxed dental floss, and sacrifice an easier flossing experience to not have to deal with the taste of wax in their mouth.
Unwaxed and waxed dental floss should both be used the same way. Move the floss in vertical motion between your teeth, getting slightly into your gum line. A clean section of floss should be used between each tooth to avoid moving plaque from one space to the other. Thankfully, floss is cheap.
Sensitive-Gum Dental Floss
This special dental floss is made with a few soft strands that are wound together. The floss is ideal for those who have gums that are very sensitive and experience discomfort using regular dental floss, especially when cleaning along their gum line.
You may find that this floss breaks easily. This does not make it a good choice for those that have restrictive spaces they are trying to floss, such as under retainer bars. The floss is not as strong as traditional floss, so it has a greater potential of breaking when up against additional friction.
Floss Dental Picks
Do not make the mistake of using a floss dental pick for your daily flossing. They are designed to remove food from a single interdental space and not floss your entire mouth. That is because you should not be using the same piece of floss between each tooth. It might make flossing easier, but your teeth are not getting as clean as they could.
Now that you know the difference between different dental flosses, you'll make the right choice next time you need to restock. For more information about flossing, contact a company like West Lakes Family Dentistry.