How Often Should You Floss?

Have you ever wondered if you’re flossing enough, or maybe not at all? Many people find flossing to be the trickiest part of their daily routine. In the United States, only about 32% of adults floss their teeth every day, 37% floss now and then, and 32% skip it entirely. That means most people aren’t flossing as often as dentists recommend. 

But daily flossing is one of the easiest ways to remove food particles, fight plaque, prevent tooth decay, and keep your gums and teeth truly healthy. So, how many times a day should you floss? Here’s what you need to know.

What Is Flossing?

Flossing means cleaning between your teeth and under your gum line with tools like traditional dental floss, dental tape, pre-threaded flossers, or tiny brushes. Your toothbrush cleans the easy-to-reach surfaces, but it can’t get into the tight spaces where teeth meet or under the gum line. That’s where flossing comes in. 

Flossing offers several important benefits for your oral health, including:

• Removing food debris and plaque between teeth and under the gumline
• Helping prevent cavities and tooth decay
• Decreasing the risk of gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis)
• Minimizing bad breath by cleaning areas that brushing can’t reach
• Promoting overall oral and gum health

How Often to Floss According to Dentists

The American Dental Association and most general dentists recommend daily flossing to keep gums healthy and protect tooth enamel. It doesn’t matter if you floss in the morning, at night, or after a meal; as long as you do it once a day, you’re doing it right. 

Include flossing in your daily routine, before or after brushing, to help remove plaque and food debris and maintain strong dental health.

What Happens If You Don’t Floss Enough?

When you skip flossing, you leave a lot behind that your toothbrush can’t handle. Over time, this can cause bigger problems for your teeth and gums. Here’s what can happen if you don’t floss every day:

• Sticky Plaque Buildup: Plaque forms quickly between teeth and along the gum line, giving bacteria a place to hide and multiply.
• Trapped Food Debris: Bits of food get stuck between your teeth after meals or snacks, and even the best brushing can leave some behind.
• Red, Sore, or Bleeding Gums: Without flossing, your gum tissue may become red, tender, or bleed easily when you brush your teeth or try to floss.
• Periodontal Disease: When plaque and bacteria aren’t removed every day, they can lead to gum disease and, if the problem gets worse, periodontal disease. These issues may cause your gums to recede and your teeth to loosen and can even result in tooth loss.
• Hidden Cavities: Tooth decay starts in places your toothbrush or regular brushing can’t reach. Flossing helps prevent cavities in these hard-to-clean spaces.
• Bad Breath: Bacteria feeding on food debris can cause ongoing bad breath, no matter how much mouthwash you use.
• Weakened Tooth Enamel: If plaque stays on your teeth for too long, bacteria in it produce acid that gradually wears down tooth enamel.
• Receding Gums: Over time, buildup along the gum line can make your gums pull away from your teeth. This can lead to tooth sensitivity and loose teeth.
• Stained Teeth: Sticky film and trapped food particles can stain the sides of your teeth, making your smile look dull.
• Expensive Dental Treatments: Ignoring daily flossing raises the risk of needing fillings, crowns, root canals, or even extractions and implants in the future.
• Impact on Overall Health: Caring for your gums doesn’t just protect your mouth; it can also decrease your risk for serious health issues like heart disease and diabetes since periodontal disease has been connected to these conditions.

What Happens If You Floss Your Teeth Too Much?

Flossing every day is great, but flossing too often or using poor technique can do more harm than good. When you floss the wrong way or get too aggressive, you can hurt your gums or even your teeth. 

Here’s what can happen if you overdo it or use the wrong method:

• Sore or Bleeding Gums: Flossing incorrectly or flossing too often can make your gum tissue feel tender and cause bleeding.
• Gum Recession: Applying too much pressure with dental floss or snapping it into the gum line can, over time, cause your gums to pull away from your teeth.
• Cuts or Injury: Using a strong, sawing, or rubbing motion or moving floss tightly back and forth can cause small cuts or injuries in your gum line.
• Weakened Tooth Enamel: Flossing too roughly may actually wear down tooth enamel near where the floss meets the tooth.
• Gaps Between Teeth: Over-flossing can sometimes force the gums to recede, making spaces where food particles and sticky film can collect even more easily.
• Increased Tooth Sensitivity: In cases where your gums recede, or enamel wears down, your teeth can start to feel more sensitive to hot or cold foods.

Best Flossing Technique

Flossing the right way is just as important as how often you do it. Using proper technique helps you remove plaque, sticky film, and food particles without hurting your gums or tooth enamel. 

Here’s how to floss properly, following the American Dental Association’s recommended five steps:

Step 1: Tear Off Approximately 18 Inches of Floss

Use traditional dental floss, dental tape, or even pre-threaded flossers if they work better for you. Start by wrapping most of the floss around the middle finger on one hand. Then, wind the remaining dental floss around the middle finger of your other hand. As you move from tooth to tooth, switch to a clean section by winding the used floss onto the second finger.

Step 2: Pinch the Floss Firmly Between Your Thumbs and Forefingers

Grip the floss firmly but gently, keeping about an inch or two of floss ready to work between your teeth.

Step 3: Use a Gentle Rubbing Motion to Guide the Floss Between Your Teeth

Carefully guide the floss between your teeth, avoiding any snapping into your gum tissue. For hard-to-reach areas or around dental work, you can use a floss threader or tiny brushes if needed.

Step 4: Shape the Floss Into a C Around the Side of Your Tooth

Curve the floss around the side of your tooth when you get to the gum line. Gently clean just beneath the gum line, taking care not to poke or force the floss into your gums.

Step 5: Use an Up-And-Down Rubbing Motion to Clean the Side of Each Tooth

Hold the floss against the tooth’s surface and rub gently up and down, following the shape of the tooth. Don’t forget to floss the back side of your last tooth on each row.

Note: Switch to a clean section of floss as you move from tooth to tooth. This helps avoid spreading bacteria or sticky film.

Alternatives to Flossing

Not everyone can easily use string floss, especially people with braces, bridges, or limited hand movement. Here are some helpful alternatives:

Water Flossers

These devices spray a steady stream of water to clean between your teeth and along the gum line. They’re gentle and easy to use for people with braces, dental work, or sensitive gum tissue.

Interdental Brushes (Tiny Brushes)

These small, cone-shaped brushes slide between your teeth and are especially good for wider gaps, dental implants, or cleaning around bridges and braces. They’re sturdy and reusable.

Dental Picks and Pre-Threaded Flossers

Dental picks are small plastic tools with a pointed end that can remove food particles and plaque from between teeth. Pre-threaded flossers have a short piece of floss held tight in a handle, which is great for tight spaces or if you have trouble wrapping floss around your fingers.

Floss Threaders

These flexible tools help guide traditional floss or tape under orthodontic wires, bridges, or tight spots where regular floss can’t easily reach.

Common Flossing Questions (FAQ)

Flossing is simple, but it can bring up a few questions, especially if you’re new to it or have unique dental needs. Here are some of the most common questions people ask about flossing and what you need to know:

Should I Floss Before or After Brushing?

You can floss either before or after you brush your teeth. What matters most is making flossing part of your daily routine. Some people like to floss first to loosen plaque and food debris for their toothbrush, while others prefer to floss last so their mouth feels extra clean.

Is It Normal for Gums to Bleed at First?

If you haven’t been flossing regularly, your gum tissue may bleed a little when you start. This happens because plaque and bacteria have built up along the gum line. With gentle daily flossing, the bleeding should stop in about a week. If gums keep bleeding, it’s a good idea to see your dentist or dental hygienist.

What Floss Is Best for Tight Teeth?

If your teeth are close together, waxed floss or dental tape usually works best. These slide between tight contact points more easily and are less likely to shred or get stuck.

Does Mouthwash Replace Flossing?

No, mouthwash can help reduce bacteria and freshen your breath, but it can’t remove sticky film or food particles between teeth. Only brushing and flossing between your teeth will take care of the areas your toothbrush can’t reach.

Make Flossing Work for You: Book Your Appointment With Us Now

At Elice Dental Care, we want to help you keep your teeth and gums healthy for life. Whether you’re starting to floss, need help choosing the right dental floss or alternative, or want to learn the best way to clean between your teeth, our caring team is here for you. 

We offer professional cleaning, clear advice, and answers to your questions, no matter your age or dental needs. Book an appointment with us today so you can feel confident about your daily routine and enjoy a fresh, healthy smile.