Only 31% of people in the UK floss their teeth on a regular basis.
Be honest – how often do you do it?
Once a day? Once a week? Never?
Flossing is an important oral hygiene habit. Just as important, in fact, as brushing your teeth twice a day. It helps to dislodge any food particles and remove harmful plaque. And the official NHS guidance is that we should all start from around the age of 12. So why do most of us not bother?
Often, it’s because people simply don’t know how to floss – or at least, they don’t know how to do it correctly. So to set you on the right foot (and hopefully encourage more people to have a go!), here our dental hygiene experts outline the best technique.
Why not give it a try?
Make today the day that you learn how to floss properly. And ensure you’re giving those pearly whites of yours the best possible chance of staying healthy.
5 steps to floss your teeth like a pro
Step 1: Tear off 45cm
To make it easier to grip, start by tearing off a strand of dental floss around 45cm long. This may sound like a lot, but you’ll need enough to use a new (clean) section every time you move from one tooth to the next.
Wrap most of the floss around the middle finger on one hand, and a small amount on the middle finger on the other – leaving approximately 5cm for use in the centre.
Step 2: Hold the dental floss taut
Next, use your index fingers and thumbs to pinch the dental floss and pull it taut – so there isn’t any slack in the middle 5cm section.
This will make it much easier for you to manipulate and slide between your teeth.
Step 3: Guide the floss between your teeth
Now you’re ready to start flossing.
Using a ‘rocking’ motion that goes up and down (rather than backwards and forwards), guide the floss between two teeth and move it slowly up towards the gumline – gently scraping against the sides of each tooth as you go.
Try not to snap the dental floss. And avoid pushing it up too forcefully, as this can sometimes hurt the gums and cause bleeding.
Step 4: Curve the floss
Once you reach the gum line, curve the dental floss so it presses tightly against the side of the tooth – essentially forming a ‘C’ shape.
Work the floss back and forth between the gums and tooth (around 8-10 strokes), to break apart any plaque. Then, gently scrape the side of the tooth from top to bottom.
Repeat this process on the opposite side.
Step 5: Continue around the mouth
As you move from one tooth to the next, unroll a fresh section of dental floss from the middle finger on one hand, whilst rolling the ‘used’ section of floss onto the other.
To avoid missing any teeth, try to start at the top and work your way from left to right. Then repeat this on the bottom. And don’t forget to do the back of the very last tooth (and any that border empty spaces).
Get one-to-one advice from our dental hygienists
Still not convinced that you’re flossing correctly?
The best option may be to pop into our practice.
Appointments with our dental hygienists are available to absolutely everyone – including members, non-members and even patients who receive their routine dental care elsewhere. And they’re a fantastic opportunity to learn more about good oral hygiene habits.
Our experts can demonstrate exactly how to use dental floss, offering tips and advice on the best, most effective technique. And to get you off to a great start, they’ll also perform a full ‘scale and polish’, professionally cleaning your teeth and removing any stubborn and difficult-to-reach plaque.
To book yours, simply use our online booking system and choose a time and date that works for you. Or if you have any questions – about flossing your teeth or the dental hygiene treatments available at Kiln Lane Dental – you’re always welcome to get in touch.
Either call us on 01744 25776 or send an email to info@kilnlanedental.co.uk and a member of the team will respond to your enquiry as soon as possible.