Brushing can only remove about 70% of the plaque. Plaque is often left on the adjacent surfaces of the teeth and needs to be removed with the aid of dental floss or a toothbrush. Proper flossing can remove plaque and food residue from areas not easily reached by toothbrushes, such as under the gums and between the teeth. We strongly advocate flossing daily to prevent plaque buildup and avoid tooth decay and gum disease. To most effectively floss your teeth to prevent dental disease, floss your teeth with the following: Take an 18 cm long piece of floss and wrap the longer end of the floss around the middle finger of each hand, leaving about 1 to 2 cm in between for flossing. Tighten the floss with your thumb and index finger and gently pull it back and forth between your teeth. Gently wrap the floss around the roots of the teeth and press it into the area below the gums. Do not use excessive force as this may damage the soft gum tissue. Do not use the same section of floss to clean different teeth. Remove the floss in a similar way to flossing, by gently pulling the floss back and forth and slowly removing it from the tooth.