The ultimate guide to flossing

What are the benefits of flossing?

Regular flossing is crucial for your oral hygiene. Without it, plaque builds up on your gum line and between your teeth - increasing your risk of gum disease and tooth decay.

Flossing keeps your mouth healthy by:

• Removing food particles and plaque from areas a toothbrush can't reach - such as tight tooth gaps.

• Removing more bad breath-causing bacteria than just brushing.

• Removing plaque below the gum line - which erodes enamel and turns into tartar.

• Reducing the risk of cavities.

• Reducing the likelihood of sore, red, and swollen gums.

• Preventing gingivitis and periodontitis.

Dr Sameer Patel, clinical director of Elleven Dental, says:

“Brushing only cleans three sides of your tooth - but floss and interdental brushes clean the other two sides by removing plaque and food from between your teeth and gums and stopping the build-up of plaque. This helps to prevent problems such as decay, gingivitis, tartar build up, and bad breath."

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How often should you floss?

You should floss once a day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)¹. While there's no such thing as flossing too much, flossing too hard can cause gum damage. So long as you learn the correct technique, this shouldn't be a worry.

How to floss your teeth - 5 steps

Flossing correctly is essential for cleaning and protecting your teeth. A good flossing technique ensures you don't irritate your gums or create openings for bacteria to enter.

What is the best type of floss?

There's no single type of floss that's best for everyone - instead, it comes down to personal preference and any specific requirements you have.

Types of dental floss include:

• Ribbon floss - waxed or unwaxed dental floss, often on a reel. It's ideal for people with tight gaps as it gets between teeth easily and offers an effective clean below the gum line.

• Floss picks - a small plastic pick that holds a small piece of dental floss. Typically for people who find it difficult to floss, often due to arthritis or dexterity issues. It can also be helpful if you find traditional flossing difficult.

• Dental tape - taped floss that's broader and flatter than regular dental floss, available waxed or unwaxed. Dental tape is helpful for people who have wider tooth gaps and find regular floss difficult to use.

• Super floss - yarn-like flossing material with stiff sections on each end to clean around braces or dental bridges. A great solution for people with braces, bridges, and veneers.

How to floss with braces

Flossing with braces is trickier as you have orthodontic wires and bars to contend with. One way to get around this is using a floss threader - a small plastic tool with a loop at the top. Thread dental floss through the loop and pass the flosser in and around your braces' components to get to your teeth. Then you can floss normally.

You can also use super floss, a string-like floss with stiff sections on either end that allow for an easier and more precise placement of floss to help you get around your braces.

How to floss under a bridge

Like braces, flossing with a bridge requires a different approach and tools. Floss threaders can also help with bridges. Pull the threader under the gap between your bridge and gum and continue flossing as normal.

There are also alternative tools, such as interdental brushes, air flossers, and water flossers - which help you clean hard-to-reach areas of your mouth.

How to floss with veneers

Flossing with veneers is the same as flossing natural teeth, only take care to be extra gentle. Some people with veneers find polytetrafluorethylene floss (PTFE) useful. This floss is less likely to fray than standard floss, helping to avoid damage, irritation, or floss becoming stuck.

How to use floss picks

There are two common types of floss picks - a curved plastic tool with a piece of dental floss attached and a soft plastic version of a traditional toothpick:

• To use the curved floss pick - gently push the strand of dental floss between your teeth and move it up and down.

• To use the plastic toothpick - gently push it between your teeth. The soft plastic helps prevent pain or irritation and can get into tighter gaps.

How to get stuck floss out of your teeth

Getting floss stuck in your teeth is a frustrating problem that can happen to anyone. Don't panic - here's what to do:

1. Do not yank at the floss or pull at it hard - this causes pain and irritation.

2. Let go of the floss if it's stuck and try to pull it through the gap from one end.

3. Failing this, lightly grasp either end of the floss and gradually wiggle it back and forth until it loosens enough to become free.

Further reading

1. CDC: Oral Health Tips.