Dental health · 4 min read
Floss, Interdental Brushes or a Water Flosser? Cleaning Between Your Teeth
A toothbrush cannot reach the spaces between your teeth. The four tools that can, how to choose, how to floss step by step, and what to avoid using instead.
Mineers Smile Center
Brushing for two minutes twice a day is the first step. The second is the one people skip: cleaning between your teeth, where a toothbrush cannot fully reach. It matters because that is where plaque likes to sit.
Why it matters
The American Dental Association (ADA) says even the best toothbrush cannot fully cleanse the spaces between your teeth, which is why it recommends flossing once a day to remove food particles and plaque, the sticky film that can lead to cavities and gum disease. Plaque that is not cleaned away can harden into tartar, which builds up along the gum line, and once tartar forms only your dentist can remove it (ADA MouthHealthy). Plaque and Tartar: What Is the Difference? explains the steps.
The NHS adds that regular flossing may also reduce gum disease, tooth decay and bad breath by removing plaque that forms along the gum line (NHS).
Four tools, and who they suit
| Tool | Good for | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| String floss (or dental tape) | Most people, as a first thing to try. | The ADA says many people find classic string floss works well. |
| Picks and tiny brushes | Out-of-the-way spots. | Pre-threaded flossers give you a pick or brush at one end. |
| Interdental brushes | Wider spaces, and gaps between teeth. | The NHS says to use a brush that fits snugly between the teeth, instead of floss, especially if there are gaps. |
| Water flosser | People who find other tools hard to use; braces, bridges and other dental work. | A gentle stream of water rinses away food and plaque. |
Which one to use is a matter of what you will actually do every day. The ADA suggests trying a few and asking your dentist or hygienist, and the NHS says they can advise on the best way for your teeth. Look for products with the ADA Seal of Acceptance, which means they have been tested.
How to floss, step by step
The ADA's five steps:
- Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one middle finger, and the rest around the same finger of the other hand.
- Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.
- Guide it between the teeth with a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap it into the gums.
- At the gum line, curve it into a C-shape against one tooth and slide it gently into the space between the gum and the tooth.
- Hold it against the tooth and rub the side with an up-and-down motion, following the tooth's shape. Repeat on every tooth, top and bottom, including the back of your last teeth.
Before or after brushing?
The two health bodies differ slightly here. The NHS says it is best to floss before brushing. The ADA says it does not matter when you do it, as long as you floss thoroughly and make it a daily habit, and suggests choosing a time you will remember, even after lunch if you are tired at night. Pick the order you will keep.
What not to use
The ADA says fingernails, folded paper, forks, safety pins and even hair are not good tools for cleaning between teeth, and can be harmful: in the survey it cites, more than 40% of people who used them felt pain. The NHS advises against wooden toothpicks to remove trapped food, as they may damage your gums, which could lead to an infection.
Should it hurt?
It should not. The ADA says cleaning between your teeth shouldn't cause pain. If you floss too hard you might damage the tissue between your teeth; too gently and you may leave plaque behind. You may feel some discomfort while you practise. If it still hurts, talk to your dentist. If your gums bleed when you clean between your teeth, read Bleeding Gums When You Brush.
If you have veneers, a bridge or aligners
Cleaning between your teeth matters just as much with dental work. The ADA says you can still get cavities under or around a veneer, and recommends cleaning between your teeth daily. A water flosser may help around bridges and braces. Our guide to looking after aligners and our porcelain veneers page are the places to start.
Want a hygiene routine fitted to your mouth? Book a private consultation, or send a note on WhatsApp, +961 3 757 127.
This article is general information, not a diagnosis. Treatment plans and results vary from person to person.
