Daily Care
Is flossing really necessary?
19 July 2026 · The Dentist, Al Qusais, Dubai
The short answer
Yes, flossing is genuinely necessary because a toothbrush cannot clean the tight contact area between two teeth, no matter how good the brush or the technique. Plaque left there hardens into calculus within about a day or two and leads to cavities between teeth and gum inflammation that often starts exactly there. If string floss feels awkward, interdental brushes or a water flosser do the same job, so the tool matters less than doing it daily.
What brushing actually misses
A toothbrush cleans the outer and inner surfaces of your teeth well, and the chewing surfaces reasonably well. What it cannot do is get between two teeth that are touching, which is most of them. That contact point is flat against flat, with no gap for bristles to enter.
Plaque builds up there constantly, feeding on whatever sugars and starches you've eaten. Left alone, it starts mineralising into calculus in as little as 24 to 48 hours, and once it's calculus, only a dentist or hygienist can remove it with a scaler. This is why people who brush twice a day but never floss still get cavities between their molars and premolars, in the exact spot a brush can't reach.
What actually happens if you skip it
The two main consequences are decay between teeth and gum disease that starts at the point where the gum meets that contact area. Bleeding gums when you finally do floss after a long gap isn't a sign that flossing is harming you, it's a sign of inflammation that was already there. That bleeding usually settles within a week or two of flossing daily, as the gum tissue calms down.
Left untreated over months and years, that inflammation can progress from gingivitis, which is reversible, to periodontitis, which involves bone loss around the tooth and isn't. Interproximal cavities, the ones between teeth, are also often harder to spot early because you can't see them in the mirror. They tend to get diagnosed on a bitewing X-ray, sometimes larger than expected because they've been growing quietly for a while.
Getting it right without the hassle
String floss works, but it's not the only option. Interdental brushes, the small bottle-brush style ones, are often easier and just as effective, particularly if your teeth have slightly larger gaps or you have crowns or bridge work. Water flossers are a good alternative for people with braces, implants, or dexterity issues, though they work best alongside brushing rather than replacing it entirely.
Technique matters more than product. Curve the floss into a C-shape against each tooth and slide it slightly below the gumline, rather than just snapping it up and down between the teeth. Once a day is enough, and doing it in the evening means you're not carrying the day's food debris into sleep, when saliva flow drops and bacteria have more time to work undisturbed.
If your gums bleed heavily, if flossing suddenly becomes painful in one specific spot, or if you're not sure whether you're doing it correctly, that's worth a dentist looking at rather than guessing. At The Dentist in Al Qusais, the first checkup is free for new patients, and Dr. Faris Alkhanafseh or Dr. Mohammad Nour can check for any decay already forming between your teeth and show you the right technique for your specific gaps and dental work. Call or WhatsApp 056 349 8888 to book one.
This article is general information, not a diagnosis. If you are in Dubai, the free first checkup at our Al Qusais clinic is the fastest way to get an answer about your own teeth.