Overview
Small Habit
Big Payoff
Brushing cleans about 60% of your tooth surfaces. Flossing takes care of the rest — the tight spaces between teeth where cavities and gum disease most often start.
Here's how to get it right in under two minutes a day.
Use Enough Floss
Break off about 18 inches. Wind most of it around one of your middle fingers and the rest around the same finger of your other hand. This gives you a fresh section for every tooth.
Guide, Don't Snap
Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and index fingers and slide it gently between two teeth. Never snap it down onto your gums.
Hug the Tooth
Curve the floss into a "C" shape around one tooth and slide it up and down against the side, going slightly below the gum line. Repeat on the neighboring tooth. That gentle C-shape is what makes flossing effective.
Move to a Clean Section
Unroll a fresh section of floss for each tooth so you're not spreading debris around your mouth.
Don't Skip the Back Teeth
Molars often collect the most plaque and are easy to forget. Take the extra few seconds to floss behind your very last tooth on each side.
Prefer a Water Flosser?
Water flossers are a great option — especially if you have braces, bridges, or dexterity issues. Any daily interdental cleaning is better than skipping it.
Time for your next cleaning? Call (810) 628-3914.