Cleaning Between Your Teeth: Why Flossing Matters

Brushing cleans the front, back and biting surfaces of your teeth, but it cannot reach the tight spaces between them. Those hidden surfaces are exactly where plaque tends to build up unnoticed — and where many cavities and cases of gum disease begin. That is why cleaning between your teeth every day is an essential part of a complete oral hygiene routine.

Health authorities including the U.S. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research recommend cleaning between the teeth once a day to remove plaque before it can harden into tartar. When plaque is left between teeth and below the gum line, it irritates the gums and can lead to gingivitis; removing it daily helps keep gums firm and healthy.

Dental floss is the classic tool. To use it well, guide the floss gently between two teeth, curve it into a C-shape against the side of each tooth, and move it up and down a few times, reaching just below the gum line. Waxed or thin floss slides more easily through tight contacts.

Floss isn't the only option. Interdental brushes work well for slightly larger gaps, and water flossers (oral irrigators) are a good choice for people with braces, bridges, implants, or limited dexterity. The best tool is the one you'll actually use consistently.

Aim to clean between your teeth before brushing so that fluoride toothpaste can then reach the freshly cleaned surfaces. Done daily, this small habit makes a big difference over a lifetime.

Sources: U.S. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research; Merck Manual; World Health Organization.