How To Floss Properly: Guide For Flossing

The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) recommends flossing your teeth once a day. If you get into the habit of flossing before you go to bed at night, you won't need to worry about flossing more than that. Excessive flossing is ineffective and can actually cause damage and irritation to sensitive gum tissue.

It's important to be gentle when flossing. Many people apply a lot of pressure or use a vigorous sawing motion, thinking this will get their teeth clean. But this kind of forceful flossing can lead to bleeding gums. Instead, floss lightly. Do not force or snap the floss against the gums. Try to use the side of the tooth to slide the floss gently into place.

Instead of using too much force or flossing excessively, flossing according to the proper method will leave your teeth sparkling clean and pain-free.

• Break off a piece of floss equal in length to the distance from your hand to your shoulder.
• Wrap floss around your index and middle fingers, leaving about five centimetres between your hands and insert between your teeth.
• Curve the floss around each tooth in a "C" shape.
• Gently move the floss using a slow back-and-forth motion and up and down, including under the gumline. Be careful not to apply too much pressure.
• Use a new section of floss for each tooth.