If you brush twice a day and figure that’s enough, you’re not alone. Most of our patients at Jannali Dental Care, your local family dentist in Jannali, tell us the same thing: they brush morning and night, but flossing gets skipped more often than not. It’s quick to forget, a bit fiddly, and honestly, it doesn’t always feel necessary.
Here’s the thing though. Flossing isn’t an optional extra. It’s doing a job your toothbrush physically can’t do, and skipping it regularly is one of the most common reasons people end up needing fillings, gum treatment, or a more involved visit than they expected. Let’s look at why flossing matters, what happens when it’s skipped, and how to actually do it properly as part of your daily oral hygiene routine.
Why Brushing Alone Isn’t Enough
Your toothbrush is great at cleaning the front, back and chewing surfaces of your teeth. What it can’t do is get into the tight contact points between each tooth. Almost half of your total tooth surface area sits in these spaces between teeth (National Dental Care, n.d.), which is a significant amount of your mouth that brushing alone simply doesn’t reach.
Left alone, food particles and bacteria collect in these gaps and form a sticky layer called plaque. Plaque is a biofilm made up of bacteria and food debris that builds up on tooth surfaces and around dental work like crowns, bridges, or implants (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research [NIDCR], 2024). If it isn’t disrupted, plaque doesn’t just sit there. Over time it absorbs calcium from saliva and hardens into calculus (tartar), which can no longer be removed by brushing or flossing at all (NIDCR, 2024). At that point, only a professional clean can shift it.
What Happens If You Don’t Floss?
Skipping floss for a few days here and there isn’t going to ruin your smile. But make it a long-term habit, and the effects add up. Gum inflammation can start surprisingly fast; gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease, can begin developing in as little as 24 hours (NIDCR, 2024), though this varies from person to person.
Left unaddressed, this can progress. Untreated calculus buildup can lead to periodontitis, where the gums pull away from the teeth and, if it continues, the surrounding bone and tissue are gradually destroyed, eventually leading to loose teeth and tooth loss (NIDCR, 2024). It’s a slow process, usually developing over months or years, which is exactly why it’s easy to underestimate.
There’s also a wider health angle worth knowing about. Research has linked gum disease to other health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory illness (Australian Dental Foundation, 2023). We’re not saying flossing alone prevents these conditions, but keeping gum inflammation under control is a genuinely meaningful part of looking after your overall health, not just your smile.
The Benefits of Flossing Every Day
The good news is that the fix is simple and doesn’t cost much. Here’s what daily flossing actually does for you:
- Removes plaque before it hardens. Getting to it early means it wipes away easily, rather than needing a dental instrument later.
- Helps prevent cavities. Clearing bacteria from between teeth protects the enamel in those hard-to-reach spots.
- Reduces bad breath. Trapped food particles are a common (and easily avoidable) cause.
- Supports healthy gums. Regular cleaning between teeth reduces inflammation and bleeding over time.
- Saves you money long-term. Preventing decay and gum disease is far cheaper than treating it.
- Supports your general wellbeing. As covered above, oral health and overall health are more connected than most people realise.
It’s worth being honest about the evidence here too. While large, long-term studies on flossing are limited, partly because they’re expensive and hard to track over years, research does show that adding floss or interdental cleaners to your brushing routine can reduce gingivitis and plaque more than brushing alone (NIDCR, 2024). As NIDCR notes, flossing is a low-risk, low-cost habit that cleans areas your toothbrush simply can’t reach (NIDCR, 2024), and that alone makes it worth doing.
How to Floss Properly
Technique matters more than people think. Here’s a simple, dentist-approved method:
- Break off about 40–45cm of floss and wind most of it around your middle fingers, leaving a small section to work with.
- Hold it taut between your thumbs and index fingers.
- Slide it gently between each tooth using a gentle back-and-forth (sawing) motion rather than snapping it down, which can injure your gums.
- Curve the floss into a “C” shape around the base of each tooth and slide it slightly beneath the gumline.
- Use a clean section of floss for each new gap, so you’re not moving bacteria from one space to the next.
- Repeat around the whole mouth, top and bottom.
A few common mistakes worth avoiding: snapping the floss too hard through tight contacts, using a short piece that’s awkward to control, and trying to floss in front of a mirror. Many people find it easier to floss by feel rather than sight, since the mirror image can be disorienting (NIDCR, 2024). If you have very tight contacts between teeth, a floss threader can help guide the floss through more comfortably.
Should You Floss Before or After Brushing?
There’s some flexibility here, but if you want the most benefit, flossing first has a slight edge. Cleaning between your teeth before brushing helps loosen food and bacteria, which your toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste can then clean away more effectively (Australian Dental Association [ADA], n.d). That said, the most important factor isn’t the order, it’s consistency. Whichever order you choose, doing it daily is what actually protects your teeth and gums.
Why Do My Gums Bleed When I Floss?
This is one of the most common reasons people give up on flossing, but it’s usually a sign you need to floss more, not less. Bleeding often happens because gums that aren’t cleaned between regularly become inflamed, and inflamed gum tissue bleeds when it’s stimulated (ADA, n.d). It’s a normal response in the early stages, not a reason to stop.
If you keep flossing consistently and the bleeding continues, it’s worth booking a check-up so your dentist can rule out other causes (ADA, n.d). As a general rule, healthy gums don’t bleed (ADA, n.d), so if bleeding continues alongside swelling, persistent pain, or teeth that feel loose, that’s a good reason to book a check-up with our team rather than waiting it out.
What’s Better: Traditional Floss or a Water Flosser?
Both have their place, and the “best” option really is the one you’ll actually use consistently.
| Traditional Floss | Water Flosser |
| Excellent at cleaning tight contact points | Great for braces, bridges, implants, or limited dexterity |
| Low cost, easy to carry | Higher upfront cost, needs power or water |
| Requires some technique to master | Often easier for people who find string floss fiddly |
Water flossers work by directing a stream of water between the teeth and gums to remove food, bacteria, and plaque (ADA, n.d), and they’re particularly helpful for cleaning around crowns, braces, and dental implants (ADA, n.d). Interdental brushes are another solid option, especially useful for people with braces, larger gaps between teeth, or difficulty holding standard floss (ADA, n.d). One thing to avoid altogether: toothpicks aren’t recommended, since rough or regular use can damage the gums, splinter, or even wear away tooth structure over time (ADA, n.d).
If you’re not sure which option suits your mouth best, that’s a great question to bring to your next visit. Every mouth is a little different, and we’re always happy to point you toward what will work best for you.
How Often Should You Floss?
Dental professionals recommend cleaning between your teeth at least once a day (ADA, n.d), ideally before bed so food and bacteria aren’t sitting between your teeth overnight. If you have an existing gum disease, your dentist may suggest doing it more often. But for most people, once a day, done properly, is enough to make a real difference.
Flossing Tips for Children
Good habits start early. Flossette tools (small handled floss picks) can make it much easier for parents to floss their children’s teeth (ADA, n.d), and they’re also a great option once kids are ready to start flossing on their own. A few tips that help:
- Start flossing as soon as two teeth touch each other, even before all baby teeth have come through.
- Keep it short, gentle and low-pressure so it doesn’t feel unpleasant.
- Let older children practise with supervision until their coordination catches up.
- Make it part of the nightly routine alongside brushing, so it becomes automatic rather than a special task.
Building this habit young means it sticks. It also means fewer surprises at their dental visits down the track.
When Professional Cleaning Is Still Necessary
Even with great flossing technique, there’s a limit to what it can do at home. Once plaque has hardened into calculus, brushing and flossing can no longer remove it, only a dental professional can (NIDCR, 2024). That’s why regular check-ups and cleans still matter, even if your at-home routine is excellent.
At your professional clean, we can catch small issues early, remove any built-up calculus, check on your gum health, and flag anything worth keeping an eye on before it becomes a bigger (and more costly) problem. Flossing and professional care work together. Neither one fully replaces the other.
The Bottom Line
Flossing takes a couple of minutes a day, but it’s doing real work your toothbrush can’t. It clears away the plaque hiding between your teeth, helps protect your gums, and lowers your risk of cavities and gum disease over time. Combined with brushing and regular dental check-ups in Jannali, it’s one of the simplest things you can do for your long-term oral health.
Looking for a dentist in Jannali for your next check-up, or want some hands-on guidance on flossing technique? Our team at Jannali Dental Care is here to help. Book your routine check-up today and we’ll make sure your smile is on the right track.
