You brush your teeth every morning and night, and use mouth wash, that’s enough right? Wrong. While brushing thoroughly is crucial for your dental health, and mouth wash can help freshen your breath, if you aren’t flossing, you aren’t completing the job.

Think of everything you eat and drink. All those coffees, your breakfasts, lunches and dinners every day – for weeks, months and years… Every time you eat, tiny amounts of debris and plaque get wedged between your teeth.

Even if it doesn’t feel obvious, it’s there. Your toothbrush cleans most surfaces of your teeth, but it can’t get into those tiny spaces between your teeth. That’s where flossing comes in. Flossing draws out built up plaque or food particles that are caught between your teeth and gum line. It promotes healthy gums, prevents gum disease and completes the job of cleaning your teeth.

If you finding flossing a little tricky, try using a longer piece of floss than normal. Take the floss and wrap it around your two middle fingers, then grasp the floss with your index finger and thumb on each side.

This will give you good control to slide the floss between the teeth and hug up and down the side of the tooth and gum line, making flossing easier. If you find your gums bleed, this means they are inflamed and need extra attention. Regular flossing will stop the bleeding within a week.

Flossing twice a day isn’t necessary – once per night, or even a few nights a week is a great benefit to your oral health. Take the challenge – begin flossing each night for one week and notice the huge difference. Start flossing today!