Don't Let a Missing Tooth Hold You Back in Life

Pros And Cons Of Using A Floss Holder

by Wyatt Morgan

If you find flossing to be a challenge or a task for which you seldom make time, your dentist or dental hygienist may have already expressed some concerns about your gum health. Some dental professionals will recommend using a floss holder — a simple, plastic device in which string a piece of floss through two short arms, essentially allowing you to floss your teeth by holding the handle of the device. Before you begin to use a floss holder, here are some pros and cons to think about.

Pro: Easier To Reach Your Back Teeth

One of the trickier parts of flossing your teeth is getting your dental floss between your molars. While flossing between your front teeth is fairly straightforward, many people skip cleaning their molars because it can be awkward to get their floss and fingers that far back. A floss holder can often make it easier for you to reach your back teeth because of the length of the device.

Con: Setting It Up Can Be A Challenge

Some floss holders are more difficult to work with than others, and if you happen to buy one that doesn't have an optimal design, you may find that threading a length of dental floss between the two arms and getting it to both remain in place and be taut can be a challenge. You may find that you're so frustrated with setting up the device that you quit before using it.

Pro: It May Encourage You

If you're someone who doesn't regularly floss his or her teeth for different reasons, you may find that a floss holder actually encourages you to perform this necessary task more often. For example, if you find conventional flossing difficult, and you've noticed that flossing with your device is easier, you might make a point of flossing daily.

Con: It Could Add Time

Many people feel as though they don't have time in their busy day to floss their teeth. While the reality is that this task doesn't take long, it may still seem daunting to some people. If you have to take several seconds to string a piece of floss into your floss holder, you may feel as though the task of flossing is a lengthier process than you'd like. Depending on your schedule and your level of patience, you might feel as though using a floss holder increases the duration of flossing and thus decide to avoid using it or even flossing altogether.

Contact a company, like Mainwaring John D DDS, for more help.

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