Health Tip: How to Floss

(HealthDay News) -- Flossing every night before brushing your teeth helps protect the gums and remove debris.

The American Dental Association offers these guidelines on how to floss:

Using a piece of dental floss about 18 inches long, wrap each end around a finger on each hand and hold the floss between the thumbs and index fingers.
Gently rub the floss between teeth with a back-and-forth motion.
Curving the floss into a C-shape once it touches the gumline, gently slide it between the teeth.
With the floss held firmly against the side of the tooth, carefully slide it up and down away from the gum.
Do this for every tooth, taking care to floss the back side of each tooth.

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