As much as many people don’t want to believe it, flossing your teeth is an important and necessary part of dental hygiene. Just brushing your teeth isn’t enough, because it doesn’t reach all of the areas that dental floss can. Just like you brush your teeth each day, you should also floss your teeth at least once daily.

What are the benefits?

Flossing helps get rid of food particles and plaque from the areas between your teeth, where your toothbrush is unable to reach. If you don’t remove plaque, it hardens to become tartar and can lead to cavities. Flossing helps prevent gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath.

How do I get the most out of flossing?

You should floss your teeth at least once a day. If you find long threads hard to control, use a floss holder designed to help. Floss gently to avoid damaging your gum tissue.

What products should I use?

Both waxed and unwaxed dental flosses are able to clean the areas between your teeth. The important thing is to use it every day, so choose the kind you like and will use. A floss holder or interdental cleaning tools like picks may help if you have difficulty due to arthritis or vision problems, but follow your dentist’s instructions for use so you don’t harm your gums. Oral irrigators can also help remove trapped food particles, but these should not take the place of flossing and brushing. You might also choose to use mouth rinses, but they must be used in combination with the rest of your dental hygiene routine.