You're probably flossing wrong. Here's how to do it the right way, according to dentists. - chof 360 news

Would you rather wait in line at the DMV or do your taxes than floss your teeth? You're not alone. Only one in three Americans floss every day, and 20% don't floss at all. Trust us, we get it — flossing is tedious and can be kind of gross. But letting bacteria set up camp between your chompers is a whole lot grosser and can cause issues that extend far beyond bad breath.

In addition to brushing for two minutes twice daily, the ADA recommends flossing or using other interdental cleaners like water flossers or floss picks once a day as part of a well-rounded oral hygiene routine. Orthodontist Randy Kunik, founder of Kunik Orthodontics in Austin, Texas, explains that when you skip flossing, you leave about 40% of your tooth surfaces uncleaned, which allows plaque (a sticky biofilm of bacteria) to build up.

Plaque that isn't cleared away through regular brushing and flossing will harden into tartar, which only your dentist can remove. "Left unchecked, plaque and tartar can irritate the gums, leading to bleeding, swelling and eventually gingivitis, an infection that is the earliest stage of gum disease," says Maggie Augustyn, a Chicago-based dentist and member of the Academy of General Dentistry. It can also cause cavities and tooth loss.

"Flossing is a game changer for keeping your teeth and gums healthy," says Kunik. That said, many of us are getting it wrong. Keep reading for expert-backed tips and tools to help level up your flossing game.

5 common flossing mistakes, and how to fix them

Besides not flossing at all (that's certainly the biggest mistake), experts say these five blunders can make your efforts less effective:

1. Your technique is wrong.

Flossing improperly, either by snapping the floss between your teeth or failing to reach down to your gumline, is common, says Vishala Patel, a dentist in McKinney, Texas. To floss effectively, she recommends gently and carefully sliding the floss between the teeth and curving it in a C-shape against each tooth, ensuring it reaches just below the gumline (without causing irritation or soreness). Then use a gentle up-and-down sawing motion to scrub along each side of the tooth. Keep in mind here, the keyword is gentle.

2. You're not using enough floss.

The ADA recommends using about 18 inches of floss wound evenly over your middle fingers. As you move through your mouth, you should unwind and move the floss, using a separate section on each tooth. As Patel explains, using the same piece of floss for multiple teeth just ends up spreading bacteria around, so it's important to use a clean section of floss for each tooth.

Patel recommends Oral-B's Glide Pro-Health Comfort Plus Floss, which she says is "gentle on gums while effectively removing plaque." We like that it moves easily between teeth and has a fresh, minty taste.

Oral-B

The flat, waxed surface of this floss makes it easy to slide between teeth without irritating the gums. The minty flavor is just a bonus. 

$10 at Amazon

3. You're forgetting your molars.

Kunik says that skipping certain teeth — especially the ones in the back — is a common mistake. He urges flossing all of your teeth, which are equally important. And don't forget to floss the back of your last molars, a spot that's easy to overlook.

4. You're scared off by blood.

Kunik says it's common for people to stop flossing if their gums bleed, assuming they are doing something wrong. "The truth is that bleeding gums usually indicate that plaque has already irritated them. If you floss consistently, the bleeding should disappear within a few weeks as your gums get healthier," he says.

If you're still apprehensive about gum sensitivity, a water flosser is an effective tool for removing plaque. Kunik recommends the Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser, which also happened to win the "best overall" water flosser award in chof360 Life's roundup. The Waterpik boasts 10 pressure settings for a customizable cleaning experience.

Waterpik

Our chof360 Life tester called out this water flosser's multiple tips and 360-degree tip rotation as factors that made it stand out as the best choice. It also comes with a toothbrush tip, so you can use it for all of your daily oral health care needs. 

$86 at Amazon

5. You're inconsistent.

Augustyn says that for many, the greatest challenge to flossing is making it a regular habit. The key is to make flossing as accessible and convenient as possible — always keep extra floss on hand, keep it in accessible places like your car, and integrate it into your daily routine, she advises. "Progress, not perfection, should be the goal. Using whatever tool you are most comfortable with — even a water flosser or floss pick — is far better than doing nothing at all," Augustyn says.

Patel recommends Plackers Micro Line Floss Picks to "make maintaining a regular flossing practice much simpler." I tested the Plackers flossers and loved their convenience — I keep a pack stashed in my purse for use on the go.

Plackers

These folding floss picks are easy to store in purses, car consoles and even wallets for easy, on-the-go flossing. 

$4 at Walmart

The bottom line

Although it's often overlooked, flossing is one of the simplest, most affordable habits you can adopt to protect your overall health, says Augustyn. And this simple daily habit pays dividends far beyond good oral hygiene — maintaining oral health plays a critical role in preventing serious health issues including diabetes, premature birth complications, Alzheimer’s disease, heart attacks and strokes.

"Flossing should be considered just as essential to a healthy lifestyle as quitting smoking, eating nutritious foods and exercising regularly. We should be building floss its own showcases in health food stores and gyms," Augustyn says. So if you're looking for one easy and healthy habit to integrate into your life, flossing should be it.

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Our health content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional on questions about your health.