Unlike a toothbrush, which cleans the tops and outer surfaces of the teeth and the gums – floss is an interdental cleaner that is designed to concentrate on the tight spaces between the teeth and the gap between the base of the teeth and gums!

Debris accumulates between the teeth. If not removed, bacteria will develop and plaque will form. Use the floss with a back and forth motion and with a vertical action until all the plaque is removed.

It is also very important to clean around the edges of any crowns, bridges or implants. This can be difficult to do effectively using traditional floss and there are now specialist flosses to do the job thoroughly (such as super floss and specialist floss threaders).

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• Break off about 18 inches of floss, and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the other hand. As you use the floss, you will take up the used section with this finger.
• Hold the floss tightly between your thumb and forefingers, with about an inch of floss between them, leaving no slack. Use a gentle ‘rocking’ motion to guide the floss between your teeth. Do not jerk the floss or snap the floss into the gums.
• When the floss reaches the gumline, curve it into a C-shape against one tooth until you feel resistance.
• Hold the floss against the tooth. Gently scrape the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum.
• Repeat on the other side of the gap, along the side of the next tooth.
• Don’t forget the back of your last tooth.
• When flossing, keep to a regular pattern. Start at the top and work from left to right, then move to the bottom and again work from the left to right. This way you’re less likely to miss any teeth.