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Cleaning between your teeth
- A toothbrush cannot remove plaque from all surfaces of the tooth.
- Cleaning between your teeth is recommended before brushing.
- Cleaning between your teeth removes soft plaque, food debris and bacteria from the teeth and gums.
- You can use floss, flossettes and/or interdental brushes to clean between your teeth.
- Parents should clean between their children’s teeth from the age of 2 years.
Dental floss
![flossing](/assets/resized/images/Advice-articles/206666/flossing_W1280_upscale.png 140w 84h)
Dental floss is a thin string, which can be waxed, unwaxed or supersized.
To use dental floss - start with a 30cm piece of floss. Wind the ends of the floss around your middle fingers.
![flossing fingers graphic](/assets/resized/images/Advice-articles/206685/flossing-fingers-1_W1280_upscale.png 195w 144h)
Keep approx. 2cm between your index fingers so you have good control.
![flossing fingers graphic](/assets/resized/images/Advice-articles/206684/flossing-fingers-2_W1280_upscale.png 196w 157h)
Slide the floss gently and slowly between the teeth, see-saw up and down on both sides of the gum triangle.
![how to floss graphic](/assets/resized/images/Advice-articles/208037/how-to-floss-graphic_W1280_upscale.png 242w 154h)
Protect your teeth with these pro tips for better flossing
Watch this video on how to clean between your teeth with dental floss
Flossettes
![flossettes graphic](/assets/resized/images/Advice-articles/206681/flossettes-graphic_W1280_upscale.png 197w 135h)
Flossettes are an excellent alternative to dental floss, especially for:
- parents cleaning their children’s teeth.
- people with reduced manual dexterity who find reaching all parts of the mouth difficult.
Flossettes have a small 2cm piece of floss strung between two plastic prongs, at the end of a curved handle.
To use flossettes, use the same action as flossing - slide between the teeth gently, see-saw up and down the tooth surface and move on both sides of the gum triangle.
Interdental brushes
![interdental brush graphic](/assets/resized/images/Advice-articles/206682/interdental-brush_W1280_upscale.png 191w 91h)
- Interdental brushes are practical and easy to use.
- They have a short handle attached to a flexible wire covered in bristles. This allows you to clean hard-to-reach places.
- The brushes come in a range of sizes, dependent on your need (e.g., large gaps between teeth, braces or reduced manual dexterity). To use an interdental brush - hold the brush between your thumb and index finger and gently insert into the space between the teeth along the gum line.
- Push and pull the brush in and out of the space, like a see-saw.
- Interdental brushes can be rinsed and reused.
Did you know?
- Only 3 out of 5 surfaces of the tooth are cleaned with a toothbrush
- 75% of Australians are NOT cleaning between their teeth