By Mayo Clinic

You can’t reach the tight spaces between your teeth or under your gumline with a toothbrush. That’s why daily flossing is important. When you floss:

• Don’t skimp. Break off about 18 inches of dental floss. Wind most of the floss around the middle finger on one hand, and the rest around the middle finger on the other hand-leaving about 1 inch to floss your first tooth.
• Take it one tooth at a time. Use your thumbs and forefingers to gently pull the floss from the gumline to the top of the tooth to scrape off plaque. Rub the floss against all sides of the tooth. Unwind to fresh floss as you progress to the next tooth.
• Keep it up. If you have trouble getting floss through your teeth, try the waxed variety. If it’s hard to manipulate the floss, use a floss holder or an interdental cleaner-such as a dental pick or stick designed to clean between the teeth.

In addition to daily brushing and flossing, you might use an antimicrobial or antiseptic mouth rinse to help reduce plaque between your teeth.

To remove food particles from your teeth, you might try an oral irrigator, a device that aims a stream of water at your teeth. Resist the temptation to use toothpicks or other objects that could injure your gums.  Keep in mind, however, an oral irrigator doesn’t replace daily brushing and flossing.

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