{"id":4452,"date":"2017-11-14T02:36:40","date_gmt":"2017-11-14T01:36:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/uk\/?page_id=4452"},"modified":"2025-04-08T20:00:57","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T19:00:57","slug":"how-to-floss","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/oral-hygiene\/how-to-floss\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Floss Teeth & Best Dental Floss Products in the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"

Flossing. It’s something you know you should do, but how often do you actually get around to it? We get it; it’s fiddly and annoying and you often end up cutting off circulation to one or more fingers. Perhaps – if you’re honest – you’re not really sure how to floss properly<\/strong> anyway.<\/p>

If this is a habit you’ve fallen behind on, you’re certainly not alone. Only 31% of British adults<\/a> use dental floss daily.<\/p>

But it’s actually an important part of your daily oral hygiene routine<\/a>, so it’s great that you’re here to find out more about the right technique<\/strong>.<\/p>

And if you’re not a fan of traditional dental floss, don’t worry. There is a variety of products that use different technologies to make the job much easier – as well as some eco-friendly options for those worried about plastic waste.<\/p>

Keep reading to find out which products would be best for you.<\/p>

Best Products for a Better Floss<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Oral-B Satin Tape<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div>

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  • Cleaning method: Scrapes plaque from teeth
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  • Features: Mint flavour, thin to fit smoothly into small gaps<\/p><\/div>

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Check the latest price <\/p>

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Oclean W10 water flosser<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div>

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  • Cleaning method: Water jet with 5 different modes
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  • Features: Erganomic design, 2 pastel colours: pink and sea green, and 200mL easy to fill water tank<\/p><\/div>

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Check the latest price <\/p>

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Waterpik WP-660UK Ultra Professional Water Flosser<\/strong>
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  • Cleaning method: Pulsing water jet with 10 pressure settings
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  • Features: Pacer and timer; separate water reservoir<\/p><\/div>

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Check the latest price <\/p>

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Philips Sonicare AirFloss<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div>

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  • Cleaning method: Microburst technology (pressurised air and water)<\/p><\/div>

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  • Features: Angled nozzle; cordless; guidance tip for proper positioning<\/p><\/div>

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Check the latest price <\/p>

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Why does flossing teeth matter?<\/h2>
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Do you make time for this every day?<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

Small food particles can easily get lodged in the gaps between your teeth and below the gum line.<\/p>

When you brush your teeth<\/a>, you scrub bacteria, plaque and food particles off the chewing surfaces and visible sides of your teeth. But a regular toothbrush can’t reach the tight spaces between your teeth and under your gums<\/strong>. This is why you need to do some kind of interdental (between-teeth) cleaning, too.<\/p>

If you don’t thoroughly clean plaque from your teeth<\/a>, it hardens over time to form a substance called tartar. This thick deposit can’t be removed by brushing or flossing teeth; only dentists can dislodge it with their dental scaling tools<\/a> (and the process isn’t exactly pleasant).<\/p>

Plaque and tartar build-up on your teeth creates a breeding ground for bacteria, which then start attacking your tooth enamel. It also makes your breath smell<\/a>. If plaque develops in pockets between the teeth and gums it usually leads to gum disease (gingivitis)<\/a>. This condition eventually causes teeth to become loose and even fall out if it’s not treated.<\/p>

Brushing your teeth properly twice a day is essential for keeping your teeth and gums healthy, and some of the best electric toothbrushes<\/a> use a pulsing motion to help clean between teeth. But they are still not a complete replacement for flossing.<\/p>

If this isn’t good enough motivation for you, consider this: looking after your teeth well now should mean you need less dental work in the future<\/strong>. The cost of fillings, root canals, extractions, crowns, implants, etc. can easily add up, so you could say that flossing now will save you money on your future dental bills.<\/p>

Summary of the benefits of flossing<\/h3>
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A dental floss stick or pick like this one from Tepe is another way to do the job<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

To quickly recap, cleaning between teeth means:<\/p>