Bearded man flossing between his front teeth while holding the floss taut between his fingers.

Why Is Flossing Important? A Simple Guide to Cleaning Between Your Teeth

Flossing removes plaque and trapped food from between your teeth and along the gumline. Government guidance for dental teams says cleaning aids like floss help reach the surfaces between your teeth, and it recommends cleaning between them every day.

This guide covers why it matters, how often to do it, whether to floss before or after brushing and when an interdental brush is the better choice.

Why is flossing important?

The NHS advises brushing the inside, outside and chewing surfaces of your teeth. Government guidance for dental teams says brushing is only part of the job. Removing plaque from between the teeth matters too, and cleaning aids such as floss help reach those surfaces.

The NHS points out that flossing is not just for getting out food that is stuck. It says regular flossing removes plaque that forms along the gumline and may also help with bad breath.

How often should you floss?

Once a day. Delivering Better Oral Health, the government's evidence-based guidance for dental teams, recommends daily cleaning between the teeth and says it should have started by age 18.

You can do this with floss, dental tape or interdental brushes. The right tool depends on the size of the gaps between your teeth.

Should you floss before or after brushing?

Before. The NHS says it is best to floss before brushing your teeth, and the guidance for dental teams also notes that cleaning between the teeth before brushing may be helpful.

The same guidance says doing it first may help link the two habits, so keeping your floss next to your toothbrush is an easy way to make it stick. You can see how it fits alongside everything else in A Daily Oral Care Routine That Fits Around Real Life.

How to floss properly

These steps are based on NHS advice:

  1. Take 30cm to 45cm of floss or dental tape. Hold it so there is 3cm to 4cm pulled tight between your hands.
  2. Slip the floss between two teeth and gently guide it into the area between the tooth and gum, as far as it will go.
  3. Curve the floss into a C-shape around one tooth. Gently slide it up and down to remove food and plaque.
  4. Repeat on the tooth next to it, then work your way round the rest of your teeth gap by gap.

If you are not sure you are getting it right, the NHS says your dentist or hygienist can advise you on the best way to clean between your teeth.

Floss or interdental brushes: which is better?

It depends on the gaps between your teeth.

  • The NHS says you can use interdental brushes instead of floss, especially if there are gaps between your teeth. The brush should fit snugly.
  • Delivering Better Oral Health says interdental brushes may be more effective than floss where they fit.
  • Where teeth sit close together, the same guidance says floss or tape can be used instead.

If your gaps vary, you can use both: brushes where they fit and floss for the tighter spots.

The NHS does not advise using wooden toothpicks to remove trapped food, as you may damage your gums.

Is flossing actually worth it?

You may have seen headlines questioning whether flossing makes a difference. Delivering Better Oral Health rates the evidence that cleaning aids used alongside brushing reduce plaque as low to very low certainty.

It still recommends that adults clean between their teeth every day, and the NHS still includes flossing in its advice on keeping teeth clean.

Braces, implants, crowns and bridges

If you have braces, implants, crowns or bridges, ask your dentist or hygienist how best to clean around them.

Where ApaCare Mineral Floss fits in

ApaCare Mineral Floss is a waxed, fresh mint dental floss made in Germany. It removes plaque and food debris from between the teeth and contains hydroxyapatite, the mineral tooth enamel is largely made of.

The smooth-gliding floss reaches narrow gaps and is suitable for natural teeth as well as implants, crowns, bridges and braces.

Shop ApaCare Mineral Floss, or get it with ApaCare Toothpaste 75 ml in the Daily Routine Bundle.

Common questions

How often should I floss?

Once a day. Government guidance for dental teams recommends daily cleaning between the teeth, using floss, tape or interdental brushes.

Should I floss before or after brushing?

Before. The NHS says it is best to floss before brushing your teeth.

Is floss or an interdental brush better?

Government guidance for dental teams says interdental brushes may be more effective than floss where they fit snugly. For tight gaps, it points to floss or tape.

How much floss should I use?

The NHS suggests 30cm to 45cm, with 3cm to 4cm held tight between your hands.

Do children need to floss?

Delivering Better Oral Health says daily cleaning between the teeth should have started by age 18. Ask your child's dentist whether and when your child should start sooner.

Can I use a toothpick instead?

The NHS does not advise wooden toothpicks for removing trapped food, as they may damage your gums.

In short

Clean between your teeth once a day, before you brush. Use interdental brushes where they fit and floss or tape where the gaps are tight. If you are unsure which suits you, ask your dentist or hygienist.

Sources

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