Flossing Your Teeth: Why a Toothbrush Is Not Enough
- smilumininfo
- Jun 23
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 24
Brushing your teeth every day is the foundation of good oral hygiene. Most people know that teeth should be brushed twice a day, preferably with fluoride toothpaste. However, many people forget about the second very important step — cleaning between the teeth.
Even when used regularly and carefully, a toothbrush cannot reach everywhere. Food particles and plaque can build up between the teeth and along the gumline. These are often the places where problems begin: cavities between the teeth, bleeding gums, inflammation, and bad breath.
That is why flossing your teeth or using other interdental cleaning tools should be an important part of your daily routine.
Why is a toothbrush alone not enough?
A toothbrush cleans the visible surfaces of the teeth well: the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces. The problem is that its bristles cannot properly reach the tight spaces between the teeth.
Plaque often remains in these areas. It is a soft, sticky film that contains bacteria. If it is not removed regularly, it can lead to cavities and gum problems. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research explains that cleaning between the teeth helps remove plaque, and plaque that is not removed can harden, irritate the gums, and lead to symptoms of gingivitis, such as redness, swelling, and bleeding.
That is why brushing and flossing should not compete with each other. They complement each other. A toothbrush cleans the surfaces of the teeth, while dental floss or an interdental brush helps reach the places where a toothbrush cannot.
What are the benefits of flossing?
Regular flossing helps remove food particles and plaque from between the teeth. This may reduce the risk of cavities between the teeth, gum inflammation, and unpleasant breath.
The American Dental Association recommends cleaning between the teeth once a day — with dental floss or another interdental cleaner. Regularity is the most important thing, and the best time to floss is the time that is easiest to include in your daily routine.
Flossing may be especially helpful when:
food often gets stuck between the teeth,
gums bleed during brushing,
bad breath appears,
teeth are tightly spaced,
tartar builds up easily,
you want to better prevent cavities between the teeth.
It is worth remembering that bleeding gums during the first few days of flossing do not always mean you should stop. Often, it is a sign that the gums are irritated by plaque buildup. However, if bleeding continues for longer, it is worth consulting a dentist or dental hygienist.
How often should you floss?
It is best to clean between the teeth once a day. For many people, the most convenient time is in the evening, before brushing. This helps remove food particles and plaque that have built up during the day, and then you can brush your teeth thoroughly with fluoride toothpaste.
However, there is no single perfect time for everyone. For one person, evening may be best; for another, morning or after lunch may work better. The most important thing is to do it regularly.
Should you floss before or after brushing?
Many people wonder whether they should floss before or after brushing. In practice, consistency and accuracy are more important than the order.
A good solution is to floss before evening brushing. This way, you remove debris and plaque from between the teeth, and fluoride toothpaste can better reach the cleaned areas. However, if it is easier for someone to remember flossing after brushing, that is still better than skipping this step completely.
How to floss your teeth properly
Proper technique is very important. Using floss too forcefully or carelessly may irritate the gums. Flossing should be gentle but thorough.
A simple step-by-step flossing method:
Tear off about 40–45 cm of dental floss.
Wrap most of the floss around the middle fingers of both hands.
Hold a short section of floss between your thumbs and index fingers.
Gently guide the floss between your teeth.
Do not snap it forcefully into the gum.
Curve the floss into a “C” shape around one tooth.
Move the floss gently up and down along the surface of the tooth.
Repeat the movement on the neighbouring tooth.
Use a clean section of floss for each space.
The NHS also describes a technique in which the floss is gently guided between the teeth, curved into a “C” shape, and moved up and down along the tooth surface to remove plaque and food particles.
The most common flossing mistakes
As with brushing, mistakes can also happen when flossing. The most common ones include:
flossing too rarely,
snapping the floss forcefully into the gums,
using the same section of floss for all spaces,
skipping the back teeth,
flossing only when something gets stuck between the teeth,
giving up after a few days because of bleeding gums.
Flossing should not hurt. If it causes strong pain, heavy bleeding, or is very difficult, it is worth asking a dentist or dental hygienist to show you the correct technique.
Dental floss, interdental brushes, or a water flosser?
Dental floss is not the only way to clean between the teeth. For some people, interdental brushes or a water flosser may work better.
Dental floss is especially useful for tightly spaced teeth where the gaps are narrow.
Interdental brushes may be a good choice for larger spaces, exposed tooth roots, bridges, implants, or braces. The NHS notes that interdental brushes can be used instead of floss, especially when there are larger spaces between the teeth.
A water flosser uses a stream of water to rinse away food particles and debris. It may be helpful for people with braces, implants, or limited manual dexterity. However, it may not replace precise mechanical cleaning for everyone, so it is best to choose the method individually.
The best product is the one you will use regularly and correctly.
Does everyone need to floss?
Most people should clean between their teeth every day, but it does not always have to be traditional dental floss. For some people, interdental brushes may be better; for others, a water flosser or a combination of several methods may work best.
People with braces, implants, bridges, crowns, or gum disease should pay particular attention to choosing the right tools. In such cases, it is worth consulting a dentist or dental hygienist, because a poorly chosen method may be uncomfortable or ineffective.
How to build a flossing habit
The most difficult part of flossing is often not the technique itself, but regularity. Many people start and then forget or give up after a few days.
To make the habit easier, it is worth:
keeping dental floss next to your toothbrush,
flossing at the same time every day,
starting with a few spaces and gradually expanding your routine,
using floss picks if traditional floss is uncomfortable,
treating flossing as a regular part of your evening care.
At first, flossing may seem time-consuming, but over time it becomes quick and natural.
Summary
A toothbrush is very important, but it is not enough to thoroughly clean the entire mouth. Its bristles cannot effectively reach the spaces between the teeth, where food particles and plaque often build up.
Regular flossing or using other interdental cleaners helps care for gum health, reduces the risk of cavities between the teeth, and supports fresh breath. It is best to do it once a day, gently and thoroughly.
It is not about having a perfect routine from the first day. It is about building a regular habit that, over time, can make a big difference to the health of your teeth and gums.
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