Do you brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time? Is mouthwash part of your daily routine? Have you seen your dentist lately? You could be doing all these smart things for your oral health, but you could still do more. 

The American Dental Association recommends that you clean between your teeth every day with floss or a comparable cleaner. Here’s why, along with helpful tips to make flossing easier. 

Why flossing is so important  

Dental floss gets in the nooks and crannies where your toothbrush can’t reach. Floss removes food, bacteria, and plaque from between your teeth and underneath your gum line. This reduces your risk for cavities and gum disease. Reducing gum disease is particularly important as more than 47% of adults 30 and older have some form of gum disease. (1) 

Surveys show that 8% to 20% of Americans never floss! (2) 

How to make flossing easier 

People with poor vision, cognitive issues, chronic diseases, or physical disabilities can have trouble flossing. They may need assistance from others or alternative means of flossing. Other people may find flossing painful, difficult, unpleasant, or time-consuming. However, it’s more than worth it for your smile to overcome these barriers to flossing. 

If you have trouble flossing, try these tips to make flossing daily easier:  

Talk to your dentist. 

Your dentist can recommend the best way to floss or other types of tooth cleaners — also called interdental cleaners — based on the spacing between your teeth, the health of your gums and any dental work you have had done. Some of the many effective alternatives to traditional floss your dentist may recommend include dental picks, interdental brushes, water flossers, air flossers, floss holders, floss threaders, dental tape, and super flossers. 

Stick with it. 

If you are just beginning to floss, your gums may bleed or hurt. The discomfort should ease after a couple of weeks. If not, you may be flossing too hard. Check with your dentist if bleeding or pain persists. 

Make time. 

You only need to floss once a day and you can do it at your convenience. It doesn’t take much time and it can help you avoid expensive, time-consuming dental problems down the road. You can floss before or after brushing your teeth if you do a thorough job. 

Floss correctly. 

1. Use about 18 inches of floss. 
2. Wind most of it around one of your middle fingers and the remaining floss around your other middle finger. 
3. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers. 
4. Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. 
5. When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth and gently slide it into the space between the tooth and gum. 
6. Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up and down motions. 
7. Repeat on the rest of your teeth. 

Only use flossing tools that have been recommended by your dentist. Don’t be one of the 42% of people who have used questionable alternatives like fingernails, paper, cutlery, and hair. (3) They’ve noted feeling pain using these unsafe, unsanitary, ineffective means of cleaning between their teeth. 

Sources: 

1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

2 Healthline 

3 American Dental Association