- Toothbrushing alone will only remove about 70% of the soft plaque (food and bacteria) off the teeth.
- Flossing your teeth will remove the rest of the soft plaque from between your teeth.
- Because plaque build-up can lead to tooth decay and gum disease, flossing twice daily is highly recommended.
To receive the maximum benefits from flossing, use the following proper technique:
- Starting with about 18 inches of floss, wind most of the floss around each middle finger, leaving an inch or two of floss to work with.
- Holding the floss tautly between your thumbs and index fingers, slide it gently up and down between your teeth.
- Gently curve the floss in a “C” shape around the base of each tooth, making sure to go beneath the gumline. Never snap or force the floss as this may cut or bruise delicate gum tissue.
- Use clean sections of floss as you move from tooth to tooth.
- To remove the floss, use the same back-and-forth motion to bring the floss up and away from the teeth.