Floss

Your toothbrush cannot reach 40% of your tooth surfaces. Floss can.

The surfaces between your teeth are where the majority of cavities begin and where gum disease typically starts. Your toothbrush - even the best electric toothbrush - simply cannot access these areas. If you are not cleaning between your teeth daily, you are leaving almost half of each tooth uncleaned.

String floss like the Oral B Pro-Health Deep Clean (Dr Kia's top pick) is the gold standard for most patients. Interdental brushes (TePe or Pickster) are recommended for patients with wider gaps between teeth - your hygienist can advise which size is right for each space. Water flossers are a useful addition, particularly for patients with braces or extensive bridgework, but they complement flossing rather than replace it - they rinse debris but do not mechanically disrupt the bacterial film the way string floss or an interdental brush does.