How to Use Floss on Your Teeth

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Daily, dentist-approved ways to clean between your teeth
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Food stuck in your teeth? Bad breath? Dentist asked the last time you flossed? No matter what brought you here, flossing your teeth is the perfect way to keep your gums healthy, and it’s such an easy addition to your daily routine. Even if you’ve never flossed before, we have you covered! We’ll walk you through the best way to floss as well as some tricks and alternatives you can try so your teeth look and feel great.

Things You Should Know

  • Use a 18–24 in (46–61 cm) piece of [1] and wrap it around your fingers. Pull a 1 in (2.5 cm) long section taut.
  • Work the floss between your teeth with a gentle back-and-forth motion. Guide the floss up to your gum line.
  • Pull the floss tight against the side of your tooth. Rub between your gums and your tooth with floss using 8–10 strokes.
  • ​​Floss your teeth once daily before you brush your teeth to remove the most plaque.
Section 1 of 4:

How to Use Dental Floss

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  1. Wrap 18–24 in (46–61 cm) of [2] around your middle fingers. Tear off a long strand of floss so it’s easier to grip. Wind the ends of the floss around your middle fingers, but not so tightly that it digs into your skin or cuts off circulation. Leave a few inches of the floss unwrapped between your fingers. [1]
    • Look for the American Dental Association (ADA) logo on the packaging when you’re choosing dental floss to ensure it’s safe to use.
    • It’s okay if you accidentally use a shorter piece of floss, but it may be a little tougher to hold onto when you floss your back teeth.
    • Wash your hands before you start flossing so germs and bacteria don’t get in your mouth.
  2. Pinch the floss with your fingers and pull it tight so there isn’t any slack. That way, you’ll have a lot easier time getting it between your teeth. [2]
    • Use a length of floss that’s easy for you to maneuver in your mouth. If you have a hard time flossing with a 1 in (2.5 cm) section, then try pulling 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) of floss taut instead.
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  3. Start with your top front teeth since they’re the easiest to reach. Use a gentle rocking motion to guide the floss into the gap between your teeth, and slowly move the floss up towards your gums. [3]
    • Be careful not to forcefully push the floss up since you could hurt your gums or make them bleed.
  4. Pull the floss so it presses tightly against the side of your tooth. This helps you scrape the most plaque and buildup stuck to your tooth so you can get them clean. [4] Gently move the floss up further toward your gum line as far as you comfortably can go. [5]
    • Avoid pushing the floss into your gums so far that it hurts.
  5. Floss the tooth on one side before you clean the tooth on the other side. [6] Work the floss gently between your gums and your tooth to break apart the buildup. Use 8–10 back-and-forth strokes to completely scrape off the plaque. Rub the floss against the side of your tooth as well. When you’re finished cleaning the sides of both teeth, slowly pull the floss out from between them. [7]
    • If you haven’t flossed in a while, it’s completely normal for your gums to bleed a little bit. After a few days of consistent flossing, the bleeding will go away. [8] If you’re still bleeding after 3–5 days of flossing, talk to a dentist to see if you’re dealing with any other gum issues. [9]
    • If you can still feel food or debris stuck between your teeth, switch to a fresh section of floss and clean that area again.
  6. Wrap the section of floss you just used around your middle finger and pinch a clean 1 in (2.5 cm) section between your fingers. Floss between all of your top teeth before moving onto your bottom teeth. Make sure you loop the floss around the backs of your rear molars to clean them too. [10]
    • If you have trouble reaching the teeth in the back of your mouth, secure your floss into a floss holder . Hold onto the handle so you can reach your molars.
    • Follow the same pattern each time you floss your teeth to make sure you don’t miss any spots.
    • When you finish flossing, ball it up and toss it in the trash.
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Section 2 of 4:

Flossing with Braces

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  1. Use waxed floss to prevent it from breaking or tangling. Waxed floss has a coating that makes it easier to slide between the tight spaces between your braces and teeth. It also doesn’t shred as easily against the metal brackets or bands, so it won’t fray when you’re flossing between your braces . [11]
  2. Stand in front of a mirror so it’s easier to see what you’re doing. Guide the end of your floss under your brace’s wire between your 2 front teeth. Once you pull the floss through, gently guide it between your teeth and rub it back and forth to remove plaque or leftover food debris. [12]
    • If you have trouble slipping the floss between the wire and your teeth, loop it through a floss threader first. Then, feed the floss threader under the wire and pull it through with the floss.
    • If you can’t get standard floss between your teeth, try using an orthodontic flosser that has a narrow tip on the end. Guide the tip under your braces wire to remove plaque and food debris.
    • After you finish flossing, brush your teeth to clean off any plaque you loosened up.
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Section 3 of 4:

Alternative Flossing Tools

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  1. Floss picks are single-use pieces of floss attached to plastic handles so you can easily reach the back of your mouth. Simply hold onto the handle and gently work the piece of floss in between your teeth down to your gum line. Then, rub the floss against the sides of your teeth like you normally would to floss. [13]
    • Floss picks usually have a pointed end at the bottom of the handle that you can use to pick out food stuck between your teeth.
  2. An interdental brush has a single bristle head attached to a handle, and it works best to clean between larger gaps in your teeth. Gently push the bristles in between the gaps of your teeth so it has a snug fit. Guide the the brush up and down the sides of your teeth to scrape off all the plaque and buildup. [14]
    • Avoid forcing the brush between your teeth since it could be painful.
  3. A water flosser sprays a steady stream that helps rinse out any food debris or loose buildup between your teeth. To use a water flosser , fill the tank with water, position the sprayer's tip between your teeth, and turn it on. Spray the water along your gum line to get rid of the plaque and buildup. [15]
    • Many experts say that you can’t use water flossers in place of brushing and flossing since they remove all the plaque and buildup. Try using them in addition to your regular flossing routine or in a pinch if you don’t have floss available. [16]
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Section 4 of 4:

When to Floss

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  1. After you remove buildup with your floss, your toothpaste is more effective since it can reach your enamel better. Brushing is also a great way to get rid of any plaque or food scraps that you loosened up with your floss. [17]
  2. It doesn’t matter if you floss in the morning, after lunch, or at night right before you go to bed. As long as you’re flossing daily, you’ll improve your oral hygiene and keep your gums healthy. [18]
    • If you ever get food caught in your teeth, floss right afterward to remove it.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What does bleeding while flossing mean?
    Tu Anh Vu, DMD
    Board Certified Dentist
    Dr. Tu Anh Vu is a Board Certified Dentist and Owner of Tu's Dental, her private practice, in Brooklyn, New York. With over six years of clinical experience, Dr. Vu helps adults and kids of all ages get over their anxiety with dental phobia. Dr. Vu has conducted research related to finding the cure for Kaposi Sarcoma cancer and has presented her research at the Hinman Meeting in Memphis. She received her undergraduate degree from Bryn Mawr College and a DMD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.
    Tu Anh Vu, DMD
    Board Certified Dentist
    Expert Answer
    It's fairly normal to see bleeding during flossing. If you're worried, check with your dentist to make sure everything is okay.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 6
  • Question
    Do I floss up and down or side to side?
    Cristian Macau, DDS
    Doctor of Dental Surgery
    Dr. Macau is a Doctor of Dental Surgery based in London, England. Dr. Macau is an oral surgeon, periodontist, and aesthetician at Favero Dental Clinic where he is known for his cosmetic dentistry and facial aesthetics work. He is actively involved in scientific research in the field of dentistry and he received his DDS from Carol Davila University of Medicine in 2015.
    Cristian Macau, DDS
    Doctor of Dental Surgery
    Expert Answer
    You should floss easily using an up and down movement, completed by a back and forth traction of the floss, which takes out the bacteria and debris between gums and teeth. Remember that bleeding is normal especially if the gums are inflamed.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Not Helpful 17 Helpful 76
  • Question
    What are some mistakes people make when they're flossing?
    Tu Anh Vu, DMD
    Board Certified Dentist
    Dr. Tu Anh Vu is a Board Certified Dentist and Owner of Tu's Dental, her private practice, in Brooklyn, New York. With over six years of clinical experience, Dr. Vu helps adults and kids of all ages get over their anxiety with dental phobia. Dr. Vu has conducted research related to finding the cure for Kaposi Sarcoma cancer and has presented her research at the Hinman Meeting in Memphis. She received her undergraduate degree from Bryn Mawr College and a DMD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.
    Tu Anh Vu, DMD
    Board Certified Dentist
    Expert Answer
    People often don't floss well enough. You should be pushing down into the gums and massaging the gums on the left, then doing the same thing on the right. Make sure your floss all of your teeth, and really take your time with it.
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      Tips

      • Use mouthwash after you finish flossing to help clean out any residual plaque or food scraps that you removed. [19]
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      • Try flavored dental floss if you want to have minty fresh breath when you’re finished cleaning your teeth.
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      Warnings

      • It’s okay if your gums bleed a little when you first start flossing. However, contact your dentist if your gums still bleed after you floss for 3–5 days since it may be a sign you have an oral infection that requires medication. [20]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://dhss.delaware.gov/dph/files/flossingyourteethpi.pdf
      2. ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/dental-health/why-should-i-use-dental-floss/
      3. ↑ https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2018-08/Flossing-508.pdf
      4. ↑ https://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/cfyt/dental_care/flossing_brushing.asp
      5. ↑ https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/flossing
      6. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-floss-your-teeth
      7. ↑ https://teeth.org.au/flossing
      8. ↑ https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/floss
      9. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003062.htm
      1. ↑ https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2018-08/Flossing-508.pdf
      2. ↑ https://www.nj.gov/health/fhs/oral/documents/miles_of_smiles_10-11.pdf
      3. ↑ https://www.saintlukeskc.org/health-library/how-floss-your-teeth
      4. ↑ https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=flossing-and-children-90-P01852
      5. ↑ https://www.rdhm.org.au/oral-health-advice?external-uuid=8682edb3-c454-4ade-924d-0c401c33ab8e
      6. ↑ https://www.adha.org/resources-docs/7123_Waterpik_Irrigation.pdf
      7. ↑ https://mypenndentist.org/dental-tips/2016/01/28/how-to-floss-properly/
      8. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29741239/
      9. ↑ https://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/cfyt/dental_care/flossing_brushing.asp
      10. ↑ https://orthodonticsaustralia.org.au/how-to-floss-with-braces/
      11. ↑ https://www.americandentalgroup.org/blog/why-your-gums-bleed-when-flossing-and-how-to-stop-it/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Step 1: Wrap the ends of the floss around your middle fingers to hold it in place.
      Step 2: Hold the floss between your thumbs and index fingers.
      Step 3: Slide the middle of the floss between 2 of your teeth.
      Step 4: Move the floss up and down and back and forth to clear away all of the plaque and debris.
      Step 5: Repeat with all of your teeth.
      Step 6: Rinse your mouth out with water or mouthwash.
      Step 7: Repeat daily.

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      • Muhammad Rohan

        Apr 13, 2016

        "Very nice information. We Muslims have been advised to floss before daily prayers with a palm-length stick. ..." more
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