Don’t skimp on the floss. Use a long piece, about an arms-length, that provides enough grip to access the spaces between every tooth, front and back. Wind up most of the floss around the middle finger of one hand and the rest around the middle finger of the other. Use your thumbs and index fingers to grip the floss, and gently slide it between each tooth down to the gum line. Move the floss against the tooth in an up-and-down motion before you go on to the next area. As you move from one tooth to the next, unroll and grip a fresh section of floss to avoid transferring the plaque back on to your teeth.
If you find it difficult to use floss, don’t skip cleaning between your teeth altogether. There are other tools you can use, such as a floss holder, plastic picks and small interdental brushes.
