How to Floss Properly (Including Flossing with Braces and Permanent Retainers)
Here’s your step-by-step guide for healthy gums and teeth

How to floss correctly

Flossing is an absolutely critical oral hygiene practice that should be performed at least once a day for an optimally healthy smile.

Without flossing daily, you’re allowing bacteria and food debris to remain in between the teeth and below the gum line where your tooth brush bristles can’t reach. This can very quickly create issues, beginning with the first stage of gum disease (gingivitis), or the beginning of interproximal tooth decay.

What type of floss is your favourite to use?

There are many different types of dental floss available on the market, and they all work effectively to remove bacteria from between the teeth.

These different types of floss include traditional or standard string floss (available in different thicknesses and in waxed or unwaxed varieties), dental tape (wider than traditional floss and flat like a ribbon - ideal for larger spaces between teeth), super floss (ideal for braces), floss picks (ideal for flossing on-the-go) and water flossers (handheld devices that use water pressure to remove debris from the crevices).

Now, let’s get into how you can ensure you’re flossing properly and effectively.

How to floss properly using traditional string floss:

  1. Break off approximately 18 inches of dental floss, and stand in front of a mirror for better visualization.
  2. Twist the string floss around each of your middle fingers, being sure to reserve about an inch or two of floss to work with.
  3. Between your thumbs an index fingers, pull the floss so that it’s taut, and begin gently sliding the floss in a back-and-forth, zig-zag motion down below the gum line and up along the sides of each tooth, curving the floss against each side to collect the bacteria and debris.
  4. Be sure to use a clean section of floss for every time you bring it down and up, or you’ll just be re-distributing bacteria to other areas (and not getting much of a clean at all).
  5. Dispose of your dental floss in the trash, and smile: you’re on the right track to a healthy smile (free of gum disease)!

How to floss properly with braces:

  1. Break off approximately 18 to 24 inches of waxed dental floss, and stand in front of a mirror for better visualization.
  2. Just like flossing normally, twist the string floss around each of your middle fingers, being sure to reserve about an inch or two of floss to work with.
  3. Again, between your thumbs an index fingers, pull the floss taut, but this time, gently press the floss between your teeth - and move the floss in a “U” shape to and from the gum line along each side of each tooth, and then down the other.
  4. Carefully and gently unthread the waxed floss from behind the wire, and repeat this for each tooth.
  5. Dispose of your dental floss, and feel good about taking care of your teeth and gums without braces standing in the way!

Can you floss with a permanent retainer?

Of course you can floss with a permanent retainer! You can use either a floss threader, superfloss, or even a water flosser to get the job done.

When flossing with a permanent retainer using a floss threader:

  1. Pass a piece of regular floss through the threader.
  2. Bring the stiff end of the floss threader between your teeth on the front of your teeth, then pass it beneath the retainer wire on the back side of your teeth.
  3. Pull the threader completely through the teeth, until the floss has been passed beneath the wire of the retainer.
  4. After the floss is beneath the retainer wire, floss between your teeth normally.
  5. To finish, pull out the floss and re-thread the threader, followed by passing the floss beneath the next tooth.

When flossing with a permanent retainer using superfloss:

Superfloss is a very simple method of flossing with a permanent retainer, and is in fact more quick and easy than flossing with floss threaders.

To floss using superfloss, simply take the stiff end of the floss and guide it beneath your retainer, and normally floss your teeth.

Have you flossed yet today?

If there’s one thing that our network of preferred provider dentists in Ontario can all agree on, it’s that daily flossing matters (a lot).

Always remember that brushing alone isn’t enough to maintain a healthy smile, and feel free to refer to our guide on proper flossing to ensure you’re getting the best clean possible!