Brushing and flossing are both important components of daily oral hygiene, but they do not clean exactly the same areas. A toothbrush is effective for cleaning accessible outer, inner and chewing surfaces, while narrow spaces between neighbouring teeth can be difficult for toothbrush bristles to reach. Interdental cleaning helps address these areas and supports a more complete oral care routine.
For consumers and dental practices considering everyday interdental cleaning options, Livingstone Unwaxed Dental Floss provides a practical way to clean between teeth as part of regular oral hygiene. Dental professionals, organisations and consumers can also browse the broader Livingstone interdental floss collection when comparing flossing products for different oral care requirements.
Rather than choosing between brushing and flossing, effective oral hygiene generally involves using both appropriately. Understanding what each method cleans, how interdental cleaning complements toothbrushing and how technique influences results can help establish a more effective daily routine.
What Can Toothbrushing Clean and What Does Dental Floss Reach?
Healthdirect Australia recommends brushing twice each day for two minutes using fluoridated toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush. Good technique includes cleaning near the gumline and reaching all tooth surfaces without applying unnecessary pressure.
Brushing is highly effective for the areas the bristles can contact, but the spaces between neighbouring teeth present a limitation. Even careful brushing cannot reliably clean every interdental surface, particularly where teeth touch closely together.
Why Does Dental Floss Matter for Interdental Cleaning?
Dental floss is designed to pass through narrow contacts and clean the sides of adjacent teeth. The Australian Dental Association recommends cleaning between the teeth every day and identifies string floss, flossettes, interdental brushes and water flossers as common options.
Interdental cleaning removes food particles and bacteria from places a toothbrush may not reach well, particularly close to the gumline and between teeth.
Can Toothbrushing Replace Dental Flossing?
No. Brushing and flossing have overlapping goals, but they reach different surfaces. Imagine two teeth touching side by side. A toothbrush can clean the front, back and biting surfaces, while the contact area between the teeth may remain largely inaccessible to normal bristles.
Floss can pass through the contact and be guided along each tooth surface. This is why oral-care guidance generally treats toothbrushing and interdental cleaning as complementary rather than competing activities.
Should You Use Dental Floss Before or After Brushing?
Healthdirect advises cleaning between the teeth once a day and notes that flossing before brushing can be useful. Cleaning interdental spaces first can loosen food and plaque so that brushing can then remove debris from the wider mouth and distribute fluoride toothpaste over the tooth surfaces.
Technique is more important than speed. String floss should be guided gently through the contact rather than snapped against the gums. Once between the teeth, it can be curved around each tooth and moved up and down along the surface, including near the gumline.
What Is the Difference Between Waxed and Unwaxed Dental Floss?
Waxed and unwaxed floss perform the same general task but feel different during use. Some people prefer unwaxed dental floss, while others find waxed floss easier through tight contacts. Tooth spacing, restorations and dexterity can influence the choice.
The Livingstone product linked in the introduction is an unwaxed floss blister pack containing 50 yards of floss. As with any flossing product, effective use depends on technique and suitability for the individual rather than the presence or absence of wax alone.
Is Dental Floss the Only Way to Clean Between Teeth?
No. The Australian Dental Association lists several ways to clean interdental spaces, including string floss, flossettes, interdental brushes and water flossers. Different products suit different mouths and abilities.
People with larger spaces, orthodontic appliances, bridges, reduced dexterity or gum disease may benefit from an alternative to conventional string floss. A dental practitioner can recommend an approach that fits the person’s oral condition and ability to use the device correctly.
What Should Buyers Consider When Purchasing Dental Floss?
Consumers should consider comfort, handling, tooth spacing and whether they can use the product consistently. Dental practices purchasing oral-hygiene products for education, preventive programs or retail areas may also consider packaging, stock requirements and the needs of their patient population.
Organisations planning to bulk buy dental floss should avoid assuming that one format is suitable for everyone. Product availability is useful, but patient instruction on correct interdental cleaning can be equally important for achieving the intended oral-hygiene benefit.
What Does a Complete Daily Oral Hygiene Routine with Dental Floss Look Like?
For most adults, a practical routine includes brushing twice daily with fluoridated toothpaste and cleaning between the teeth once each day using an appropriate method. Regular dental visits, diet and individual risk factors also influence oral health.
Floss cannot compensate for poor brushing, and brushing cannot completely replace interdental cleaning. Combining the two gives more tooth surfaces direct attention and supports a more complete approach to daily plaque control.
The brushing versus flossing question has a simple answer: both are useful because they clean different areas. Daily use of unwaxed dental floss or another suitable interdental cleaner can complement effective toothbrushing and help build a more complete oral hygiene routine.
The best method is one that can be used safely, correctly and consistently. When users are uncertain about flossing technique or which interdental product suits them, a dental practitioner can provide individual guidance.
References
- Healthdirect Australia (n.d.) Dental Care and Teeth Cleaning, Australian Government health information service, viewed 18 August 2026.
- Australian Dental Association (n.d.) Cleaning Between the Teeth, Teeth.org.au, viewed 18 August 2026.
