Measure a little more than a foot of floss and wrap each end around your pointer or middle finger and grasp the floss with your thumbs.

Before brushing your teeth, measure an arms length of floss, approximately 18 inches, and wind each end around your middle fingers. Grasp 1 to 2 inches of the floss with your index (pointer) finger and thumb.

Gently glide the floss in between the teeth, careful not to apply too much pressure directly over the gum. The goal is to slide the floss between the gum and the tooth to form a “C” shape around the tooth (hugging action). Now massage this area (slightly under the gums) to remove plaque and bacteria and proceed to the other side of the contact/gum area.

After a few teeth, use a new/clean section of the floss. Now, notice how much fresher your breath feels. Don’t forget to smile.

Dr. Joseph Passamano practices in Irvine, CA. To learn more, visit www.MydentistJoe.com