How to floss properly: a step-by-step guide
Brushing cleans about three of the five surfaces of each tooth. The other two sit between the teeth, and that is where most gum problems and many cavities start.
Why cleaning between teeth matters
Most people know they should floss. Far fewer do it every day, and many of those who do aren’t sure they are doing it right. Bleeding, floss that shreds, or a feeling that it isn’t making any difference are the usual reasons people give up.
This guide explains how to floss properly in six simple steps, how often to do it, which tools suit which mouths, and what to do if your gums bleed. If you have ever wondered how to floss around braces, a bridge or tight teeth, those answers are here too.
What flossing actually does
Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that builds up on teeth every day. A toothbrush removes it from the front, back and biting surfaces, but the bristles can’t reach the tight contact points between neighbouring teeth or the small pocket just under the gum line there.
Left alone, plaque between the teeth inflames the gums, causing redness, swelling and bleeding. Over time this can progress to gum disease, which loosens teeth. It also feeds cavities that start between teeth, where they are hard to see until they are large. Flossing, or using an interdental brush, removes that plaque before it causes harm.
Learning how to floss well takes a week or two of practice. After that it takes about two minutes a day.
How to floss in six steps
Take about 45 cm of floss
Roughly the length from your hand to your elbow. Wind most of it around one middle finger and a little around the other.
Hold it tight
Pinch a short section, about 2 to 3 cm, between your thumbs and index fingers. A short, tight section gives you control.
Ease it between the teeth
Slide the floss gently between two teeth with a slow back-and-forth motion. Never snap it down onto the gum.
Curve it into a C shape
Wrap the floss around the side of one tooth and slide it gently just under the gum line, then move it up and down a few times.
Repeat on the neighbouring tooth
In the same gap, curve the floss the other way around the other tooth and clean that side too.
Use a clean section each time
Unwind fresh floss as you move from gap to gap, and don’t forget the back of the last molars.
How often and when to floss
Once a day is enough for most people. The time of day matters less than doing it consistently, but many people find the evening easiest, before brushing at night. Flossing first loosens debris so that the fluoride from your toothpaste can reach between the teeth.
Take your time on the back teeth. They are the hardest to reach and the most likely to trap food. If you are short of time, a quick but thorough floss is better than skipping it entirely.
Floss, tape, interdental brushes or water flosser?
String floss
Thin and flexible, it fits into tight contacts. Waxed floss slides more easily and shreds less.
Dental tape
Wider and flatter than floss. Comfortable for people with slightly larger gaps.
Interdental brushes
Small brushes in different sizes. Often more effective than floss where there is enough space, and easier for many people.
Floss picks
Floss on a plastic handle. Handy for beginners and children, though harder to curve around each tooth.
Water flosser
A jet of water that flushes debris. Useful with braces, bridges and implants, but it doesn’t scrape plaque away as well as floss or brushes.
Super floss
Floss with a stiff end for threading under bridges and fixed braces wires.
Not sure what you need?
Get a free check-up and X-ray. A dentist explains your options and gives you the cost in writing. Open until 10 PM on Al Khan Street, Al Majaz.
Why your gums bleed when you start flossing
Bleeding is the most common reason people stop. In most cases it’s a sign of gum inflammation caused by plaque, not damage from the floss. When you keep cleaning gently every day, the inflammation usually settles and the bleeding stops within one to two weeks.
If bleeding continues after two weeks of daily cleaning, or your gums are swollen, painful or receding, book a check-up. Read our guide to bleeding gums for more, and see our gum treatment page if you have been told you have gum disease.
See a dentist if
- Bleeding lasts more than two weeks
- Gums look swollen, shiny or dark red
- Floss catches or shreds in the same spot
- You notice a bad taste or bad breath that keeps returning
- A tooth feels loose
How to floss with braces, bridges and implants
With fixed braces, normal floss cannot pass over the wire. Use a floss threader or super floss to pass the floss under the wire, then clean each side of the tooth as usual. Small interdental brushes and a water flosser also help clean around brackets.
Under a bridge, thread super floss beneath the false tooth and slide it back and forth along the gum. Around implants, use floss or an interdental brush gently; implants can develop gum infection just like natural teeth. If you’re not sure how to floss your particular work, ask us at your next visit and we’ll show you on your own teeth.
Common flossing mistakes
Snapping the floss down hard can cut the gum. Sawing back and forth across the gum instead of curving around the tooth misses the plaque. Using the same section of floss for the whole mouth just moves bacteria around. And flossing only when food gets stuck means most gaps never get cleaned.
If floss shreds in one place, there may be a rough filling edge or a cavity between those teeth. That is worth having checked. A dental X-ray finds decay between teeth long before you can see it.
Teaching children how to floss
Start cleaning between your child’s teeth once two teeth touch, usually between the ages of two and six. Parents should do it for them at first; floss picks make it easier. Most children can floss on their own by around eight to ten, though it helps to check now and then. See our children’s dentistry page for more on caring for young teeth.
For general guidance, the NHS guide to keeping teeth clean recommends cleaning between the teeth daily with floss or interdental brushes.
How to floss when you have sensitive gums or teeth
If your teeth or gums are sensitive, the basics of how to floss stay the same, but go more slowly and choose a soft, waxed floss or the smallest interdental brush that fits comfortably. Warm water after cleaning can be soothing. Sensitivity that makes cleaning painful is a reason to visit, not a reason to stop; see our guide to sensitive teeth.
People with arthritis or limited hand movement often ask how to floss without wrapping floss around their fingers. A floss holder, floss picks or a water flosser can replace the finger technique, and an interdental brush with a long handle is usually the easiest option of all.
Making it a habit
Knowing how to floss is only half of it; doing it every day is the hard part. Keep floss next to your toothbrush where you’ll see it, link it to a habit you already have, and start with just your back teeth if a full mouth feels like too much. Within a few weeks most people notice fresher breath and gums that no longer bleed, and that is usually what keeps them going. At your next check-up, ask the hygienist to show you how to floss any area you find difficult.
Flossing questions
Should I floss before or after brushing?
Is a water flosser as good as floss?
What if my teeth are too tight to floss?
Can flossing create gaps between teeth?
How long does it take to learn how to floss?
Want us to check your technique?
Book a free consultation in Al Majaz. Our hygienist can show you how to floss on your own teeth and recommend the right tools for you.
A note from us
Written by the dental team at Al Jazeera Dental Clinic, a family clinic on Al Khan Street, Al Majaz 3, Sharjah, looking after Sharjah families since 1998, and medically reviewed by Dr Ranjeet Kumar, Medical Director (BDS, Diploma in Endodontics), October 2026. Not a diagnosis. Questions about your own teeth? Call or WhatsApp us.
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