Oral Hygiene
Do I Really Need to Floss Every Day?
The dentist’s version of “eat your vegetables” — yes, you really do need to floss. But if you’ve tried and hated it, there’s better news: the modern options are far better than the waxed string you gave up on.
Why brushing alone isn’t enough
A toothbrush, even an electric one, reaches only 60% of your tooth surfaces. The spaces between your teeth — where most cavities and most gum disease begin — are effectively untouched. This is why people who brush perfectly for years can still have bleeding gums and cavities between the teeth.
The three interdental cleaning options
1. Traditional floss (string)
- Cheap, portable, effective
- Hardest to use well
- Hardest to do daily
2. Interdental brushes (TePe, GUM, Oral-B)
- Small brushes on a wire handle
- Size-matched to each space
- Easier than floss, faster
- Excellent for larger gaps and for adults with any gum recession
3. Water flossers (Waterpik)
- Pressurised water jets
- Best for patients with braces, implants, bridges or arthritis
- Not quite as effective at plaque removal as string floss or brushes, but much better than nothing
The right technique for string floss
- Use 45 cm of floss. Wrap most around one middle finger, a little around the other.
- Guide the floss gently between teeth — don’t snap it.
- Hug the side of each tooth in a C-shape and slide down, then up, twice.
- Use a clean section of floss for each gap.
Building the habit
The habit trick isn’t “doing it perfectly.” It’s doing it at all. Pick the option that fits your life:
- Busy mornings? Keep interdental brushes beside the TV for the 10pm news.
- Travel a lot? Dental picks in your bag or coat pocket.
- Have braces or implants? Water flosser on the bathroom counter.
Start with 3 times a week. Once that’s automatic, go daily.
Bleeding gums at first?
Expected. Inflamed gums bleed when disturbed. After 7–10 consistent days of flossing, the bleeding stops because the gums have healed — a clear sign you needed to be doing it.
What we recommend at Dantam Dental
At your scaling appointment, ask us to demonstrate flossing on your own teeth with your own floss. Two minutes of coaching in the chair beats any YouTube video. And when you come back in six months, we’ll be able to see the difference instantly.
Flossing isn’t optional — but with the right tool for your mouth, it becomes genuinely easy.