Not dental advice. This is general information and doesn't replace an exam. For pain, swelling, bleeding gums, a loose tooth or any change in your mouth, see a dentist.
Your toothbrush can’t reach the sides of your teeth where they touch. That’s where plaque hides and where many cavities and gum problems start. Dental groups recommend cleaning between your teeth once a day.
Does flossing really work?
Honest answer: the best studies on string floss alone are mixed, and some reviews found weak evidence that it prevents cavities on top of brushing. But dentists still recommend cleaning between teeth, because it reaches areas that brushing doesn’t, and gum health improves for people who do it consistently. The best tool is the one you will actually use every day.
How to use string floss
- Break off about 18 inches and wind most of it around one middle finger, with a little around the other.
- Hold it taut with about an inch between your hands.
- Slide it gently between teeth with a back-and-forth motion. Don’t snap it down into the gum.
- Curve it into a C shape against one tooth and slide it just below the gum line.
- Move up and down along the side of the tooth, then repeat on the neighbor.
- Use a clean section for each gap.
Pick the tool that fits you
| If you… | Try |
|---|---|
| Have tight teeth and nimble fingers | String floss |
| Hate string or struggle with dexterity | Floss picks or a water flosser |
| Have braces, bridges or implants | Water flosser, plus interdental brushes |
| Have wider gaps or receding gums | Interdental brushes |
Bleeding gums
A little bleeding when you start is common, because the gums are inflamed from plaque. It usually improves within a week or two of daily cleaning. If it keeps bleeding, or the gums are swollen, painful or receding, see a dentist. It could be gum disease.
When to do it
Any time works. Many people floss at night because it’s part of their bedtime routine. Combine it with brushing so it becomes a single habit; see how to brush your teeth.
Our picks
Picks marked Research pick are chosen from spec comparisons and large-sample owner reviews. We switch a pick to Tested by us only after we've used it. Prices change, so check the current one.
1.Waterpik Aquarius water flosser
A countertop water flosser that cleans between teeth with a pulsing stream. It can be easier than string floss for braces, bridges and implants, and it makes many people more likely to clean between their teeth at all.
- Easier around braces and dental work
- Many find it more comfortable than string
- Takes counter space and needs an outlet
- Messy until you get the hang of it
2.TePe interdental brushes
Small brushes designed to fit between teeth. They tend to work well where the spaces are wider, around bridges and where gums have receded. Choose a size that slides in without force; your dentist or hygienist can help you pick.
- Effective for wider gaps
- Reusable for a while
- Need the right size for each gap
- Not for very tight contacts
3.Oral-B Glide floss
A shred-resistant floss that slides between tight teeth easily. Easy to find and inexpensive, and a good default if you like string floss.
- Slides through tight contacts
- Low cost
- Takes technique
- Hard to use at the back for some people
4.GUM Soft-Picks
Small soft rubber picks that clean between teeth without string. Convenient in the car, at work or for kids' help with parents, though they don't replace everything floss can do.
- Easy and portable
- Gentle on gums
- Not as precise as floss in very tight spaces
- Single-use feel adds to waste