Floss your teeth
Flossing cleans plaque and trapped food from the contact areas and gum edges that a toothbrush cannot reach effectively.
The short answer
Dental floss is a smooth strand guided between teeth and curved around each tooth in a C shape. This contact removes the bacterial plaque film from the sides of the teeth and the shallow gingival margin without cutting down into healthy tissue.
How should floss move around neighbouring teeth?
Use a clean section of floss for each contact, guide it gently through the tight area, then rub up and down against one tooth and the neighboring tooth. If spaces are wide or bridges and braces block floss, ask about interdental brushes, floss threaders, or a water flosser.
What flossing technique protects the gum tissue?
Use a clean section of floss for each contact, guide it gently through the tight area, then rub up and down against one tooth and the neighboring tooth. If spaces are wide or bridges and braces block floss, ask about interdental brushes, floss threaders, or a water flosser.
Which gum symptoms require a dental examination?
Seek a dental examination for bleeding that continues after gentle daily cleaning, swollen or painful gums, loose teeth, or persistent bad breath. Sudden swelling, fever, or severe pain needs prompt care.
Is floss or another interdental aid best for you?
Are my contacts better suited to floss, an interdental brush, or a threader? Can you show me how to clean around my bridge, braces, or crowded teeth?
Frequently asked questions
Are my contacts better suited to floss, an interdental brush, or a threader? Can you show me how to clean around my bridge, braces, or crowded teeth?
Use a clean section of floss for each contact, guide it gently through the tight area, then rub up and down against one tooth and the neighboring tooth.
What information should I bring to an appointment?
Bring a list of symptoms, medicines, relevant medical conditions, and any appliance or product involved.
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Who wrote this page
This library is published by Dental Nation, a licensed dental group practising in the United Arab Emirates. Pages are written and overseen by the same clinical team that treats patients in our clinics, and are held to a fixed editorial standard for safety and accuracy.
This page is patient education, not medical advice, and cannot replace an examination. Anything urgent — facial swelling, trauma, uncontrolled bleeding or severe pain — needs a dentist or emergency care now.