Flossing Day, also known as National Flossing Day, is a holiday that encourages everyone to keep their teeth and gums clean by regularly flossing. Everyone knows that regular brushing is a way to fight off tooth decay and gum disease, but far too many people seem to skip one of the most important parts of their oral hygiene routine: flossing.

People who don’t floss are missing out on cleaning approximately 30% of their tooth surfaces—which can be disastrous. It’s important for everyone to take the time out of their day to floss their teeth, no matter how busy they are.

Cool Facts About Flossing

Below are some facts about flossing that we think are pretty cool. Take a quick look at them while you’re celebrating this holiday so that you have something to share with friends and family members.

• Floss can be waxed or unwaxed. Waxed is best for teeth that are close together. Unwaxed is best for people with gaps between their teeth.
• Most dentists agree that 18-20 inches of floss should be used for flossing.
• There are monofilament and multifilament flosses.
• Monofilament is made from rubber and plastics.
• Multifilament is made from silk and nylon.
• It’s best to floss before brushing your teeth.
• Flossing is beneficial for oral health.
• If you hear squeaking while using unwaxed floss, then it indicates that your teeth are already clean.

Observing Flossing Day

Anyone who wants to observe this holiday can start by learning how to floss properly and then buying themselves some floss. It’s also a good day to learn about some of the pioneers of modern dentistry who have contributed to making modern teeth much healthier. Finally, people can use the hashtag #FlossingDay on their social media accounts to spread the word about this holiday online to anyone who might not know about it.