Flossing teeth
Question: I get tangled in the floss and it breaks my nails, and I hate to watch myself in the mirror. It’s gross. Do I really have to floss all my teeth?
Mimi: No, only the ones that you want to keep. I can’t floss by wrapping the floss around my fingers. When I stick my fat fingers into my mouth I feel like I want to gag. I have plastic floss holders made by Butler and other companies. I use “swords” which are pre-strung floss on a pick. G U M makes little packages of Soft-Picks that I love. I have their green and white packages everywhere: all over my desk, my house, my car, and in my purse. I hate junk stuck in my teeth.
You already know about plaque that turns into tartar that causes gum diseases that lead to all kinds of ugly stuff in your body like heart attacks. Only proper brushing and flossing can get rid of that goop.
Remember when you floss to go around the backsides of the last, back teeth. Although food isn’t stuck in there, there will be plaque. Be gentle but firm in flossing. Just whacking at the crack between teeth to get food out isn’t enough. Slide down the side of each tooth, under the gum line to loosen debris.
Everybody will tell you that ribbon floss is better than waxed or unwaxed is better because it frays, or flat is better than round or whatever is better than what the last person told you. Use what you like best. Use whatever you will use. Ribbon sounds wonderful like I am wrapping up a present. I can’t get it between my tiny teeth. Use whatever, just remember to floss.
You know where your teeth are. You don’t need to stand in front of the mirror. Watch TV or read a book while you floss. If you aren’t in a hurry, you may floss longer.
At night, brush your teeth before you floss. I had a dentist friend who told me the following trick. Squeeze out a line of fluoride toothpaste onto a toothbrush or the edge of the sink or wherever. Dip the strand of floss into the toothpaste and floss. Re-dip between each tooth. Spit, don’t rinse. He claimed that by working the fluoride toothpaste into the teeth and under the gum you would prevent all cavities. He also told me that rubbing fluoride toothpaste into the cuticles of your nails each night would make the nails grow stronger. But that is for a different column.
I have braces, so flossing is difficult. I get so much food caught in my braces that twenty minutes after eating I could pick an entire full meal out of my braces. I have to use threaders or special floss with stiff ends. I usually use Soft Picks. My favorite flossing alternative is an AquaPic. At night I brush well, kind of floss as well as possible with braces, then squirt warm water from the AquaPic. I am always amazed at how much trash and garbage is irrigated out.
If you have irritated gums or pockets at the root of the teeth, you can mix some hydrogen peroxide in with the water. If you have bad breath, hydrogen peroxide is a good mouth rinse to neutralize the sulfur odor from foods. Bad breath is frequently an indication of poor dental health. So tell your dentist about it.
For a beautiful, healthy smile, brush well after breakfast. Swish water after lunch. Use plastic picks during the day if food gets stuck. Brush 2 minutes at night then floss well.
Mimi Barre is the owner of International Day Spa, 325 Cajon St., Redlands.
Send your skin care questions to her at MimiB@INTLdayspa.com. She and her estheticians are available for personal consultations. (909) 793-9080. Past columns of Ask Mimi are on the web at www.INTERNATIONALdayspa.com.
