floss

Everyday

1. Dental floss is a thin thread used to clean between your teeth. tree →
2. To floss is to clean between your teeth with this thread. tree →
3. The floss is a dance where you swing your arms and hips from side to side. tree →
4. Candy floss (British) is a fluffy pink sweet made of spun sugar; Americans call it cotton candy. tree →

In the lessons

In health and hygiene, brushing cleans the surfaces of teeth, but flossing removes food and plaque from between them, where a brush cannot reach; this helps stop tooth decay and gum disease. Dentists say floss once a day, gently, using a clean piece of floss for each gap. Phrases: "dental floss", "floss your teeth", "a piece of floss", "candy floss", "do the floss".

Examples

• Floss between your teeth before bed. tree →
• The dentist showed me how to floss gently. tree →
• I need a new box of dental floss. tree →
• Flossing helps keep your gums healthy. tree →
• My gums bled a little when I first started to floss. tree →
• We bought candy floss at the fair. tree →
• Everyone did the floss dance at the party. tree →
• Use a fresh piece of floss for each gap. tree →

Note

As a material, "floss" is uncountable: "a piece of floss", not "a floss". Regular verb: flossed, flossing (double s). A little bleeding when you start flossing is common, but tell an adult if it goes on. Candy floss (UK, Ireland, Australia: "fairy floss" in Australia) = cotton candy (USA, Canada); it is mostly sugar, bad for teeth.