Cut a piece of floss — about 18 inches, or the length of 2½ toothbrushes — and wrap it around your middle fingers on both hands, leaving a couple of inches at a time to work with.

Never reuse a strand of dental floss. It could leave bacteria in your mouth. When flossing, move to the next clean segment of strand for each tooth. Don't aggressively slide the floss into your gums.

As Tang notes, flossing picks are not the most effective method of cleaning teeth at the gum level. Its small, straight piece of floss cannot form to the curves of teeth to clean them thoroughly.

Research connects poor oral hygiene to heart problems. Learn why dentists say flossing daily isn't just about a bright smile - it could help protect your heart too.

(Flossing more than once a week was associated with an even greater reduction in risk.) 44 percent lower risk of cardioembolic stroke, which are blood clots traveling from the heart ...

Regular flossing is a simple yet powerful habit that can have profound effects on your cardiovascular system. Here are five compelling reasons why flossing your teeth can save your heart. 1.

Flossing too aggressively or over-flossing: Being rough on your teeth or flossing more than once a day will not make your teeth cleaner. Instead, it can lead to soreness and gum irritation.