Flossing is one of those habits most people know they should do but are not sure they are doing right. Here are clear answers to the questions our Glenmore Park patients ask most, from how often to floss to what it means when your gums bleed.
Key points
- Floss, or clean between your teeth another way, once a day.
- Either order works: flossing before brushing helps fluoride reach between teeth.
- Bleeding when you start usually settles within one to two weeks of gentle daily flossing.
- Interdental brushes and water flossers are good alternatives if floss is hard to use.
How often should you floss?
Once a day is enough for most people. The Australian Dental Association recommends cleaning between your teeth daily, because a toothbrush cannot reach the tight spaces where plaque collects. Flossing more than once a day is not harmful if you are gentle, but doing it well once a day matters more than doing it often.
Should you floss before or after brushing?
Either order works, as long as you do both. Many people find flossing first helps, because it loosens plaque and food from between the teeth so the toothpaste can then reach those surfaces. If you floss after brushing, try not to rinse straight away so the fluoride stays on your teeth a little longer.
How to floss properly
- Use about 45 cm of floss and wind most of it around your middle fingers.
- Guide the floss between two teeth with a gentle back-and-forth motion. Do not snap it into the gum.
- Curve it into a C shape around one tooth and slide it just under the gum line.
- Move it up and down a few times, then curve it around the neighbouring tooth.
- Use a fresh section of floss for each gap, and don’t forget the back of your last molars.
If floss is fiddly, interdental brushes or a water flosser are good alternatives. We are happy to show you which suits your teeth at your next clean.
Why do my gums bleed when I floss?
Bleeding when you start flossing is common and usually means the gums are inflamed by plaque, an early stage of gum disease called gingivitis. With gentle daily flossing, the bleeding often settles within one to two weeks as the gums heal. If it continues beyond that, or your gums are swollen, receding or sore, book a check so we can look for gum disease. Our guide to bleeding gums and gum disease explains more.
Flossing with braces, aligners, bridges or implants
Floss threaders, super floss and interdental brushes make it easier to clean around fixed bridges, implants and orthodontic wires. If you are using clear aligners, take them out and floss before putting them back in, so food is not trapped against your teeth.
Quick answers
- Is flossing really necessary? Yes. It cleans surfaces a brush cannot reach, which helps reduce decay between teeth and gum problems.
- Can flossing create gaps? No. Gentle flossing does not widen spaces between healthy teeth.
- Is mouthwash a substitute? No. Mouthwash does not remove the sticky plaque that floss clears.
Read more about cleaning between your teeth on Healthdirect.
Floss, interdental brushes or a water flosser: which is best?
- String floss suits tight contacts between teeth and costs very little.
- Interdental brushes often clean wider gaps, gum recession and areas around bridges more effectively than floss. They come in sizes, so ask us which fit your gaps.
- Water flossers are helpful around braces, implants and for people with limited hand movement. They work best alongside, not instead of, brushing.
- Floss picks are convenient on the go, but use a clean section for each gap where you can.
The best tool is the one you will use properly every day. If you are unsure, bring your current tools to your next visit and we can check your technique.
Signs it is time for a check-up
- Gums that still bleed after two weeks of daily flossing.
- Floss that shreds or catches in the same spot, which can mean a rough filling or decay.
- Food that keeps getting trapped between the same teeth.
- Bad breath or a bad taste that does not go away.
Reviewed by the Glenmore Park Dental Services clinical team, October 2026. This article is general information, not personal dental advice.
To book, call Glenmore Park Dental Services on (02) 4733 1197 or request an appointment. We are at Shop 17b, 11 Town Terrace, Glenmore Park, and open Monday to Saturday.