Oral hygiene is an integral part of our health that often gets overlooked because of our hectic lifestyles. However, maintaining good oral health is not a choice, it’s a necessity. One key tool that often goes underutilized in our dental care routines is the dental floss tape.
What is Dental Floss Tape?
Dental floss tape is a tool designed to clean between your teeth where brushes can’t reach. It’s a thin, flat, string-like material that you insert between your teeth and slide up and down to remove food particles and plaque.
What is floss tape used for?
Floss tape is used for cleaning the spaces between your teeth that a toothbrush can’t reach. It’s specifically designed to remove food particles and dental plaque from these areas to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. By sliding the floss tape up and down between each tooth and beneath the gumline, you can keep your teeth and gums healthy and reduce the risk of developing oral health issues.
The Benefits of Using Dental Floss Tape:
One of the key benefits of dental floss tape is its ability to clean areas of your mouth that a toothbrush can’t, specifically the spaces between your teeth and under the gum line. These are places where bacteria can multiply if not cleaned regularly, leading to gum disease and tooth decay.
Research has shown that using dental floss tape is significantly more effective at removing plaque and reducing incidences of gingivitis than just using a toothbrush. Not just this, it also helps in preventing bad breath, a problem that many people struggle with.
Choosing the Right Dental Floss Tape:
It’s important to note that not all dental floss tapes are created equal. They come in a variety of types – waxed, unwaxed, flavored, unflavored, tape, and string. The type that is best for you depends largely on your personal preference and the space between your teeth. Generally, tape floss is wider and considered better for people with larger gaps between their teeth.
What is the Difference Between Floss and Dental Tape?
Floss and dental tape serve the same purpose – they both clean between your teeth to remove food particles and dental plaque – but they differ in their design and texture.
Floss, which is also known as string floss, is round and thin and works well for people with teeth that are closely spaced together. It’s often available in both waxed and unwaxed versions. Waxed floss can be easier to slide between closely spaced teeth.
Dental tape, on the other hand, is broader and flatter. It’s essentially a wider version of regular floss, and because of its wider surface, it can cover more area and clean more efficiently. This can be particularly beneficial for those with more space between their teeth or with bridgework.
Regardless of which type you choose, the important thing is to find a product that you feel comfortable with and to use it regularly as part of your oral hygiene routine.
Is it Better to Floss With String Or Tape?
Whether it’s better to floss with string or tape largely depends on your individual needs and comfort.
Floss tape is wider and flatter than string floss. This makes it a great option for those with larger gaps between their teeth or those new to flossing, as it can be softer and easier to handle.
On the other hand, string floss, particularly waxed string floss, can be more effective at getting into very tight spaces between teeth.
In general, the best floss is the one that you will use regularly. Consistency is key for maintaining effective oral hygiene. So, it’s recommended to choose the one that feels most comfortable to you and supports your commitment to daily flossing.
How to Use Dental Floss Tape
To begin, cut about 18 inches of floss, wind most of it around one of your middle fingers, and the rest around the same finger on the opposite hand. Hold the floss between your thumbs and index fingers, then gently slide it up and down between your teeth.
Gently curve the floss around the base of each tooth, making sure you go beneath the gum line. But be careful not to snap or force the floss, as this could bruise or cut delicate gum tissue. Use clean sections of floss as you move from tooth to tooth.
Dental floss tape is an indispensable part of maintaining oral health. It is not just an ancillary cleaning tool but an essential one that can make all the difference in your oral care routine. It helps in removing harmful bacteria, preventing tooth decay, and keeping your breath fresh. Thus, embrace the dental floss tape in your oral hygiene routine, and give your smile the care it deserves.
