(HealthDay News) — Most people know it’s important to floss every day, but many don’t know the proper technique. The American Dental Association offers these tips:

• Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around both middle fingers. Hold the floss between your thumbs and forefingers.
• Using a rubbing motion, guide the floss between your teeth.
• When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth and slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.
• Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up and down motions.
• Repeat throughout your whole mouth.