1. Flossing Technique
Use a little over a ruler’s length of floss (30-45cm). Wind both ends of the string of floss around your middle fingers and grip it between your thumbs and index fingers (with 2cm between each hand). Gently glide the floss in between the teeth, moving up and down to clean both sides of the adjacent teeth. Be careful not to floss too hard as that will damage your gums.
2. Flossing Aids
A floss threader (a nylon loop through which you thread the floss – see picture below) can be used for people who find it really difficult to get the floss down (e.g. people with braces or people with tight contact between teeth). The floss threader will thread in between the teeth and pull the floss through.
Alternatively, a floss pick can also be used, especially for hard-to-reach areas like the back of the mouth. Interdental brushes (little brushes such as Piksters that can be used to brush in between teeth) can be used if you have large gaps in between your teeth.
3. Other Quick Tips
- Floss at least once a day, at night before going to bed. If you are too tired at the end of the day, then you can floss the first thing in the morning.
- Children’s fine motor skills don’t fully develop until approximately age 9 so if you are a parent, you will need to help your child floss their teeth.