Everyday dental care
How to Clean Between Your Teeth: Floss, Picks and Water Flossers
Your toothbrush cleans the surfaces you can see. The spaces between your teeth need a different tool. Here’s how to clean them, and what to use if regular floss is awkward for you.
The ADA recommends cleaning between your teeth once a day to remove food particles and plaque.[1] The NIDCR gives the same advice: clean between your teeth regularly, aiming for once a day.[2]
Pick a tool you’ll actually use
Traditional floss is only one option. The ADA also lists dental picks, tiny brushes and water flossers.[1] If you have arthritis or find floss hard to hold, the NIDCR suggests:[2]
- A plastic or wooden dental pick
- A floss holder (a small handle that holds the floss for you)
- A floss threader, which helps you get floss under bridges or braces
- A water flosser
- Interdental brushes, tiny brushes that fit between the teeth
Your dentist or hygienist can show you which size of interdental brush or which tool suits the gaps between your teeth.
How to floss, step by step
The ADA’s method:[1]
- Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers.
- Hold it tight between your thumbs and forefingers.
- Guide it between your teeth with a gentle rubbing motion. Don’t snap it into your gums.
- At the gum line, curve the floss into a C shape against one tooth.
- Hold it against the tooth, slightly away from the gum, and gently rub the side of the tooth with up-and-down motions. Then do the same on the neighboring tooth.
Use a fresh section of floss as you move from tooth to tooth.
Morning or night? Before or after brushing?
It doesn’t matter. The ADA says that as long as you clean thoroughly, the time of day makes no difference; the most important thing is to make it a daily habit.[1] Pick a time you can stick to, such as just before bed.
What if my gums bleed?
Gums that are red, swollen or bleed easily can be a sign of gum disease.[3] Keep cleaning gently, and tell your dentist, especially if the bleeding doesn’t settle. Our guide to the early signs of gum disease explains what to watch for.
Common questions
Is a water flosser as good as floss?
The ADA lists water flossers among the tools you can use to clean between your teeth, alongside floss, picks and tiny brushes.[1] The best tool is the one you’ll use every day; your dentist can help you choose.
How often should I clean between my teeth?
I have arthritis. What’s easiest?
The NIDCR suggests a plastic or wooden dental pick, a floss holder, a water flosser or interdental brushes if regular floss is hard to handle.[2]
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Sources
- Flossing. MouthHealthy, American Dental Association. www.mouthhealthy.org
- Oral hygiene. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIH). Last reviewed December 2024. www.nidcr.nih.gov
- About periodontal (gum) disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. May 15, 2024. www.cdc.gov
This guide is general information, not medical or dental advice. Talk to your dentist, doctor or pharmacist about your own health, especially if you take medication or have a health condition.