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Dentistry vocabulary · Gums and Oral Hygiene

Floss

Meaning in dentistry, with examples

/flɑːs/verbCore term

In dentistry, floss means: To clean between the teeth and just under the edge of the gum with a thin thread. As a noun, it is the thread itself, also called dental floss.

In Turkish: diş ipi kullanmak, diş ipi

How it is used

A key word in hygiene instructions. Dentists ask 'Do you floss?' and patients say they floss daily or now and then. The noun appears in floss, dental floss and floss picks. Interdental brushes are often used for wider gaps.

Example sentences

  1. Do you floss regularly, or do you just brush?

  2. My gums bleed a little when I floss.

Common collocations

  • floss daily
  • dental floss
  • floss between your teeth
  • floss pick
  • plaqueA soft, sticky film of bacteria that forms on the teeth every day. If brushing and cleaning between the teeth do not remove it, it leads to decay and gum disease.
  • gingivitisInflammation of the gums, usually caused by plaque. The gums look red and swollen and bleed easily, but good cleaning can reverse it.
  • gumThe firm pink tissue that covers the jawbone and fits tightly around the neck of each tooth. The technical word is gingiva.
  • fluorideA mineral compound that makes enamel stronger and more resistant to acid, which helps to prevent decay. It is added to toothpaste and, in some places, to drinking water.

More terms: Gums and Oral Hygiene

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.