Do I really need to floss?
Yes. The American Dental Association recommends cleaning between your teeth once a day, with floss or another tool that reaches between them.
The short answer
Floss is the usual way to clean between your teeth. If floss does not work for you, interdental brushes, floss picks and water flossers are other ways to clean between teeth.
Learn to floss well, or use a tool you will keep up.
What flossing does that brushing cannot
A toothbrush cleans the outside, the inside and the chewing surfaces of each tooth. It cannot get into the tight spaces where neighbouring teeth touch, and that is where plaque, the sticky film of bacteria, collects.
Plaque left there can cause decay between the teeth and inflamed, bleeding gums. Plaque that stays long enough hardens into tartar, which brushing and flossing do not remove; only a professional cleaning does. Flossing keeps plaque from settling there.
How to floss
- The American Dental Association says to break off about 18 inches of floss and wrap most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the rest around the same finger of the other hand.
- Hold it tight between your thumbs and index fingers.
- Slide it gently between two teeth with a rubbing motion. The American Dental Association says never to snap the floss into the gums.
- Curve it into a C against one tooth and slide it just under the gum line. Move it up and down along the side of the tooth, then do the same on the neighbouring tooth.
- Wind to a clean section for each gap, and do not forget the back of the last tooth in each corner.
Any time of day works. Evening suits many people because it clears the day’s food before sleep.
If floss is hard to use
Plenty of people find string floss awkward, especially with braces, a bridge, limited hand strength or teeth that sit close together at the back. Other ways to clean between teeth include:
- Interdental brushes are small brushes that fit the space between teeth, and some people with wider gaps find them easier than floss.
- Floss picks hold a short length of floss on a handle, which is easier to reach with.
- Water flossers clean between the teeth with a stream of water, and can suit people for whom string floss is difficult.
Which one fits depends on how your teeth sit, so ask the dentist or hygienist at your next visit to show you.
What you may notice when you floss
Gums bleed when you start
The American Dental Association says gums may bleed at first as they get used to cleaning between the teeth, and that this usually goes away on its own in about a week.
Gums still bleed after about a week of daily flossing
If it continues, the American Dental Association says to see your dentist. It can be a sign of gum disease.
Floss shreds or snags in one spot
Can point to a rough edge on a filling or crown, tartar, or a cavity. A dentist can check it and smooth or repair it.
Floss will not pass between two teeth
The teeth may be very tight, or there may be an edge or tartar in the way. Do not force it; mention it at your visit.
A bad smell or taste from one gap
Can be trapped food. If it keeps coming back in the same place, have it checked for decay or a gum problem.
A swollen gum, a sore spot that does not settle, or a bump on the gum needs a dentist's look. Call the office; do not wait for a checkup.
Next step
A cleaning at the dental office removes what daily care cannot, and it is a good time to have your technique checked. Call the office to schedule a checkup, or if your gums bleed.