How to Floss Properly: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

If you've ever wondered whether you're flossing the right way, you're not alone. Lots of people at Two Rocks Dental Care tell us they brush well but skip flossing, or do it so quickly it barely helps. The good news is that proper flossing technique is simple once you know the steps, and it only takes a couple of minutes a day.

In this guide we'll walk you through how to floss properly with string floss, floss sticks and other interdental cleaning tools, plus how to adjust your technique if you have braces, tight contacts or wider gaps between your teeth.

Why flossing matters, even when your teeth feel clean

Your toothbrush does a great job on the front, back and chewing surfaces of your teeth. But it can't reach the tight space between two teeth that are touching. That's where interdental cleaning, cleaning between your teeth, comes in.

Food and plaque build up in these spaces every day. Left there, plaque can irritate your gums and lead to decay between teeth, which often doesn't show up until it's gone quite deep. Daily flossing helps clear this out before it becomes a problem.

How to floss properly with string floss

Here is the basic technique, step by step.

• Break off about 40 to 45 centimetres of floss. That sounds like a lot, but you need enough to use a fresh section between each tooth.
• Wind most of it around one middle finger, and the rest around the middle finger of your other hand. This second finger takes up the used floss as you go.
• Hold a short length, about 2 to 3 centimetres, tight between your thumbs and index fingers.
• Guide the floss gently between two teeth using a soft back-and-forth motion. Never snap it down, as this can nick your gums.
• Once it reaches the gum line, curve the floss into a C-shape against one tooth and slide it gently up and down, just under the gum line.
• Repeat the same motion against the tooth on the other side of the gap.
• Move to a clean section of floss and work your way around your whole mouth, including the back of your last molars.

Go slowly and gently rather than rushing. A little bleeding the first few times you start flossing properly is common and usually settles down within a week or two as your gums get healthier. If bleeding carries on past that, it's worth mentioning at your next check-up.

How to floss properly with floss sticks

Floss sticks, sometimes called flossers, are small plastic handles with a short length of floss stretched across a fork shape. They're handy for the bathroom, your bag or the car.

• Hold the stick like a small tool, with the floss section facing the gap you want to clean.
• Guide it gently between your teeth with the same soft back-and-forth motion as string floss.
• Curve the floss against one tooth and slide it up and down, then do the same against the neighbouring tooth.
• Use a new stick, or a clean part of a longer handle, once the floss looks worn or frayed.

Floss sticks are a good option if string floss feels fiddly, especially for kids learning the habit or anyone with limited hand movement. The main downside is that one small floss section has to do more work, so you may need a few sticks to get right around your mouth properly.

How to floss properly with braces

Braces make interdental cleaning trickier because the wire sits in the way of a straight path between your teeth. A few things help.

• Use a floss threader, a small loop that helps guide the floss under the archwire, or choose floss with a stiffened end built for this job.
• Thread the floss carefully under the wire before guiding it between the two teeth as usual.
• Use the same gentle C-shape motion against each tooth, taking care not to tug on the wire or bracket.
• Move slowly. It does take longer than flossing without braces, but the habit gets quicker with practice.

An interdental brush, a tiny brush on a handle sized to fit between teeth, can also work well around brackets and wires. If you're unsure which tools suit your braces, our team can talk you through the options at your next visit.

Floss alternatives for tight or wide gaps

When your teeth are tightly spaced

If floss keeps shredding or won't slide through, a thinner waxed floss usually glides more easily than an unwaxed one. Go gently rather than forcing it, and let the floss ease through the contact point rather than pushing hard.

When you have wider gaps between teeth

Where there's more space, such as after some gum treatment or simply due to the natural shape of your teeth, an interdental brush often cleans more thoroughly than floss alone. These come in different sizes, so a brush that's too small won't clean properly and one that's too big may feel uncomfortable. Our team can help you work out which size suits each gap, since it's common to need more than one size across your mouth.

Water flossers

A water flosser uses a thin stream of water to flush out debris between teeth and along the gum line. It can be a useful addition alongside brushing, particularly for people who find string floss awkward, though it tends to work best as an extra step rather than a full replacement for cleaning between teeth with floss or an interdental brush.

Common flossing mistakes to avoid

• Snapping the floss down into the gum instead of easing it in gently.
• Using the same stretch of floss for every tooth, which just moves plaque and bacteria around your mouth rather than removing it.
• Flossing in a straight line and skipping the C-shape curve, which misses the part of the tooth right under the gum where plaque collects.
• Only flossing the front teeth and skipping the back molars.
• Giving up after one session of bleeding gums, rather than sticking with gentle daily flossing to let your gums settle.

Flossing properly once a day, ideally before bed, is more useful than an occasional thorough session. It becomes a quick habit, much like brushing, once you've done it for a week or two.

When flossing isn't enough on its own

Even with good technique, floss and interdental brushes only remove the plaque you can reach. A professional clean removes the hardened plaque, called tartar or calculus, that builds up over time and can't be brushed or flossed away at home. At Two Rocks Dental Care we call this Active Maintenance, our scale and clean hygiene appointment, and we recommend it alongside your daily routine to keep your gums in good shape. You can read more about what's involved on our hygiene page.

If you're a preferred provider patient with HBF, HCF or nib, we can process your claim on the spot through HICAPS, which usually means a smaller gap to pay compared with other funds. It's never free, but it does make the appointment easier on the day.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I floss?

Once a day is the general guidance, and it doesn't matter much whether you floss before or after brushing, as long as you're thorough and gentle. Many people find it easiest to build the habit into their night-time routine.

Why do my gums bleed when I floss?

A small amount of bleeding when you start flossing, or after a break from it, is common and often settles within a week or two of regular gentle flossing. If bleeding continues past that, or happens every time you floss, it's worth mentioning at a check-up so our team can take a look.

Is it better to floss or use an interdental brush?

Both clean the space between your teeth, and the right choice often depends on how your teeth are spaced. Tighter contacts usually suit floss, while wider gaps are often cleaned more thoroughly with an interdental brush. Many people use a mix of both.

Can children floss their own teeth?

Younger children usually need help from a parent until they have the hand control to do it well themselves, often somewhere around eight to ten years old. If you're unsure when to start, our team can show you the technique at your child's next visit.

What if floss keeps breaking or shredding?

This often happens where teeth are very tight, or where there's a rough edge on an old filling. Try a thinner, waxed floss first. If it keeps happening in the same spot, it's worth getting that tooth checked, since a rough or chipped area could be catching the floss.

Getting your flossing technique right is one of the simplest things you can do for your long-term dental health, and it works best alongside regular check-ups and cleans. If it's been a while since your last visit, or you'd like our team to show you the best approach for your own teeth, we're here to help. Two Rocks Dental Care is family run and local, so you and your family don't need to drive down to Joondalup for everyday dental care. You can find out more about our team on our about us page, or check details for joining the practice on our new patients page. When you're ready, you can choose a time that suits you by booking online, or give us a call on (08) 9502 9040.

Ready to get your smile checked and get some hands-on flossing tips? Book an appointment online with Two Rocks Dental Care today, or call us on (08) 9502 9040.