Dental Flossing

Advice On Flossing Correctly

  • Use a section of floss 18 to 24 inches in length.
  • Wind most of the floss around one of your middle fingers.
  • Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the other hand. This finger will “take up” the floss as it becomes used.
  • Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers, with about an inch of floss between them. There should be no slack.
  • Using a gentle sawing motion, guide the floss between your teeth. Never “snap” the floss into the gums.
  • When the floss reaches the gumline, curve it into a “C”-shape against one tooth.
  • Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth until you feel resistance.
  • Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently scrape the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum.
  • Move the floss to the tooth on the other side of the same gap. Repeat the same process.
  • Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth. Don’t forget the back side of your last tooth.