Brushing twice a day is brilliant, but it’s only part of the picture. Flossing gets to the places your toothbrush can’t reach, removing plaque and food from between your teeth and just under the gumline. If you skip it, you’re leaving behind the bits that often cause the most problems.

Flossing once a day helps prevent gum disease, tooth decay and bad breath. It’s one of the simplest, most effective things you can do for your mouth, and it only takes a minute or two.

How to Floss Properly

If you’ve never quite known how to floss, don’t worry. You’re not alone. Here’s how to do it the right way:

1. Break off about 50cm of floss. It sounds like a lot, but you’ll need the length to wind around your fingers and keep good control.

2. Wrap the ends around your middle fingers. Leave a short section (around 8–10cm) between your thumbs and forefingers to work with.

3. Gently glide the floss between two teeth. Don’t snap it, guide it in with a gentle sawing motion if needed.

4. Curve the floss around each tooth. Make a “C” shape and slide it under the gumline. Gently move the floss up and down against the side of each tooth.

5. Use a clean section each time. As you move from tooth to tooth, unwind fresh floss to avoid moving plaque around.

6. Work your way around your mouth. Top and bottom. Left and right. It’ll be second nature before you know it.

If it feels awkward at first, that’s totally normal. Like anything new, it gets easier with a little practice and the results are well worth it.