Dental silk sometimes used after candy (5)

I believe the answer is:

floss

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'dental silk' is the definition.
'floss' can be an answer for 'silk' (I've seen this before). I'm unsure of the 'dental' bit.

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for floss that I've seen before include "Clean between the teeth" , "What dentist could recommend" , "flower in Victorian novel" , "A mass of silky fibres - dental?" , "Eliot's river" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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