Oct 21, 2020 - minute readminutes read

How To Choose Your Floss

Everyone’s oral health needs are different. However, we all need to clean between our teeth.

It’s important that you choose the floss that’s right for you, as it will help you remove more plaque and achieve better oral health. Wearing braces, tight teeth, sensitive teeth…?

You need a floss which is adapted to your specific needs. With so many different options available, it’s sometimes hard to know where to start. This page can point you in the right direction and help you pick the perfect floss for you!

If you have very tight teeth, removing plaque can be a bit of challenge. A fine floss such as GUM® FINE FLOSS is probably your best bet. You could also try GUM EXPANDING FLOSS which is also designed to easily fit in the tightest spaces. Once you’ve inserted it, it will expand significantly to fit the space and clean the entire surface, reaching above and below the gum line.

Just because your back teeth are more difficult to reach doesn’t mean you should neglect them. In fact, this makes them even more susceptible to plaque build-up so you should give them as much attention as your other teeth. To clean between your back teeth more easily try using GUM EASY-FLOSSERS or an angled interdental brush such as GUM BI-DIRECTION.

If you experience light bleeding and/or pain when flossing this could indicate plaque build-up along the gum line. You need to floss more regularly and thoroughly to remove the plaque that is irritating your gums. Make sure you choose floss that is adapted to your sensitivity and use it gently, without snapping, every day. GUM EXPANDING FLOSS is gentle on gums and ideal for people with sensitive gums and teeth. If bleeding and/or pain persists, make an appointment with your oral health practitioner.

If you’re always in a rush, or just find it difficult to floss, flossers might be a good alternative. Our ergonomically designed GUM EASY-FLOSSERS make effective flossing super easy. With a comfortable grip handle and extra resistant floss which slides easily between the teeth, they are perfect to floss in no time or for on-the-go flossing. For a more high-end approach, you may want to consider GUM FLOSBRUSH Automatic. It features a specially designed mechanism that advances new floss with the click of a lever, so you’re always ready with a clean section of floss. The shred-resistant floss removes plaque effectively and slides easily between the teeth.

Cleaning between your teeth is key to achieving good oral health. This is because brushing alone only covers three out of five tooth surfaces. To clean all surfaces, you need to use a toothbrush in combination with floss and/or an interdental tool. Some people find traditional flossing difficult. If this is your case, you might want to consider using GUM EASY-FLOSSERS. They are easy to hold and perfect for on-the-go use. You could also consider using interdental brushes or picks instead of floss.

Many orthodontic appliances make it more difficult to floss. There are specific types of floss which can help you floss more easily. GUM ORTHO Floss has a built-in threader at the end which can easily be inserted under wires.

When wearing bridges, crowns or implants, reaching all areas and cleaning thoroughly can be difficult, but should be done if you want to protect your oral health. Consider using a specially designed floss. GUM ACCESS FLOSS is super easy to use, thanks to a built-in threader. It allows you to easily guide the floss between your teeth, under and around crowns, bridges and implants. The floss also expands for more contact with the surface of the teeth, making it perfect if you have wider interdental spaces.

Flossing daily is a great way to remove plaque between your teeth. Everyone should floss, especially if:

You have particularly tight spaces between your teeth
You have individual implants
You have dental prostheses on natural teeth or implants
You wear an orthodontic appliance

Flossing is a small task, but many of us forget to do it every day. The important thing is to establish a daily habit and stick to it. To make flossing part of your daily routine, keep your floss in sight, right next to your toothbrush and remind yourself that flossing ‘helps you clean where your toothbrush alone can’t’. Consider using a flavoured floss, like GUM TWISTED FLOSS you’ll get a burst of minty green tea flavour every time you use it. And once you’re done, you feel extra fresh and clean!