Food and plaque can end up getting stuck between your teeth or under your gum line. When they do, mere brushing will not be able to remove them. The bristles of your toothbrush are simply not equipped to handle areas like those between your teeth and under your gum line. For that, you need dental floss. Now, just as there is a proper way of brushing your teeth, there is also a proper way of flossing.

If you ask your dentist or hygienist, they would be more than happy to show you the basic flossing techniques. But, to make things more convenient for you, use the technique provided below:

* First of all, cut off about 18 inches of dental floss. Then you wrap one end of it lightly around the middle finger of one hand and the other around the middle finger of other hand.

* Next step is to firmly grasp the dental floss with your index fingers. This way, you can adjust the length of floss you’ll be using as well as its tautness.

* With your index fingers, form the floss into a C-shape and then carefully slide it up and down between your tooth and gum line. The motion can be described as the same one that a saw makes. Do it gently, making sure that the floss does not snap into your gums.

* To scrape the side of the tooth (another area that a toothbrush simply cannot clean), hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Then, gently move it up and down away and towards the gum.

* To repeat the motions for other teeth, wind the floss around the middle finger. That way, you will be using a fresh section of the floss and thereby, reducing the spread of bacteria, which inevitably happens if you don’t use a fresh portion.

* Bacteria in the mouth can lead to gingivitis or what is more commonly known as “gum infection.”

Finally, don’t forget to floss the back of your four rear teeth.