Flossing is a process that helps remove dental plaque from areas that a toothbrush cannot reach, such as between teeth and under the gums. This helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that people floss their teeth at least once daily in addition to brushing twice daily.

In addition to removing plaque, flossing helps to remove food debris from between teeth and gums, polish tooth surfaces and control bad breath (halitosis). Experts recommend establishing a regular time for flossing and following a consistent pattern. There are two major techniques used to floss – the spool method and the loop method.

The spool method involves wrapping one end of the dental floss around each middle finger and using the index fingers and thumb to hold the floss tightly as it is guided between the teeth in an up-and-down fashion. The loop method involves tying the ends of the floss into a circle and placing all the fingers (but not the thumb) inside the loop. The index fingers guide the floss through the lower teeth, and the thumbs guide the floss through the upper teeth.

With both methods, the purpose is to remove plaque by scraping the tooth surface while also guiding the floss between the tooth and gum to clean below the gumline. This should be done with care because snapping the floss into the gums can injure them.

Dental floss is available in either unwaxed or waxed form. In addition, it is available in flavored or unflavored and wide and regular varieties. Studies have found that all types of floss are about equally effective in removing plaque.