For good dental health, you should not only brush your teeth but also use dental floss. Using dental floss has been shown to increase cavity prevention effectiveness by 40% compared to not using it. Is it better to floss before or after brushing?

Using dental floss before brushing is more effective in removing tartar. This is the result of an experiment conducted by Professor Pateme Mazhari's team at the Department of Dental Materials at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences with 25 participants. The research team had the participants use dental floss after brushing for two weeks and before brushing for another two weeks. They measured plaque and fluoride levels on the teeth before and after flossing and brushing. Participants were not allowed to brush their teeth for 48 hours before flossing and brushing.

The experimental results showed that using dental floss first and then brushing significantly reduced the amount of tartar in the mouth and resulted in a higher fluoride concentration. Professor Majhari stated, "This study confirmed that using dental floss before brushing is advantageous for tartar removal," and added, "When floss removes interproximal bacteria and tartar, subsequent brushing and rinsing with water effectively eliminate debris from the mouth."

To maximize the cavity prevention effect, you must use dental floss correctly. First, cut a length of about 40-50cm of floss, then wrap it several times around the tips of your middle fingers on both hands to secure it so it doesn't slip. Next, use your thumbs or index fingers on both hands to hold the floss, keeping it about 2-3cm long.

If there is a gap between the teeth, a thick dental floss coated with wax is recommended; if the gap is narrow, a thin dental floss is better. Insert the floss between the teeth and move it back and forth like sawing. To allow plaque or food debris to adhere well to the floss, the floss should be pressed closely against the surface of the teeth.

It is most desirable to always use dental floss before brushing your teeth after three meals a day. If it is practically difficult, at least use dental floss once before going to bed. For those with uneven teeth, gum disease, or gaps between teeth where food easily gets stuck, developing a habit of flossing is essential.

Meanwhile, using dental floss regularly does not cause the gaps between teeth to widen. The enamel that surrounds the outermost part of the teeth is very hard and does not wear down from flossing. If the gaps between teeth seem to have widened after flossing, it may be because the gum swelling has subsided, revealing teeth that were already spaced apart. Poor oral hygiene usually causes gums to swell due to inflammation. When you start flossing regularly, inflammation decreases, and the spaces between teeth that were hidden by swelling become visible.

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I think I also misunderstood this.

Will using dental floss regularly cause gaps between teeth?

However, nothing is happening.