Kami memflos gigi agar tidak mendapat karies gigi.

In Malay, kami means we, but not you, while kita means we including you.

So Kami memflos gigi... means the speaker is talking about their own group and not including the listener.

This is a very common point for English speakers, because English we does not make this distinction.

• kami = we, excluding the listener
• kita = we, including the listener

If the speaker were giving a general statement that includes the person being spoken to, kita might sound more natural.

Memflos is a verb built from the borrowed word flos (from English floss) with the Malay verbal prefix meN-.

So:

• flos = floss
• memflos = to floss

This kind of formation is common in modern Malay, especially with borrowed words. It is understandable, but it can sound a bit informal or modern.

A more explicit alternative is:

• menggunakan flos gigi = to use dental floss

So memflos gigi is understandable, but some speakers may prefer menggunakan flos gigi in more careful or formal usage.

Malay has a verb-forming prefix often written as meN- because its form changes depending on the sound that follows.

In memflos, it appears as mem-. With borrowed words, especially ones starting with consonant clusters like fl-, the pattern is not always as neat as with native Malay roots, but memflos is a common-looking adapted form.

For a learner, the important thing is:

• meN- often makes a verb
• its exact shape changes
• with loanwords, usage can be flexible

You do not need to overanalyze memflos too much at first; just recognize it as to floss.

It appears twice because it is part of two different expressions:

• memflos gigi = floss the teeth
• karies gigi = dental caries / tooth decay / cavities

So the first gigi is the object of memflos, while the second gigi is part of the medical term karies gigi.

Even though English might avoid repetition more strongly, Malay often allows this kind of repetition if each phrase is a normal expression.

That said, stylistically, some speakers might still prefer to reduce repetition by rephrasing the sentence.

Here agar means so that or in order that.

Both agar and supaya can introduce purpose:

• agar tidak mendapat karies gigi
• supaya tidak mendapat karies gigi

Both mean roughly so as not to get cavities.

Very generally:

• agar can sound a little more formal or written
• supaya is very common in everyday speech and writing

In this sentence, either works.

Use tidak to negate verbs and adjectives. Use bukan mainly to negate nouns or noun phrases.

Here, mendapat is a verb (to get / to obtain), so the correct negation is:

• tidak mendapat = not get

Not:

• bukan mendapat

A useful rule:

• tidak
  • verb/adjective
• bukan
  • noun

Examples:

• Saya tidak tahu. = I do not know.
• Itu bukan masalah saya. = That is not my problem.

It is understandable, but it may sound a little stiff or slightly unnatural to some speakers.

Mendapat literally means get / obtain, and it is often used in health contexts, but with karies gigi the phrase can sound somewhat formal or medical.

More natural alternatives might include:

• agar tidak mengalami karies gigi = so as not to experience dental caries
• agar gigi tidak berlubang = so that the teeth do not get cavities / holes
• untuk mencegah karies gigi = to prevent dental caries

If you want something very everyday and natural, gigi berlubang is often more familiar than karies gigi.

They are related, but the tone is different.

• karies gigi = dental caries; more medical/technical
• gigi berlubang = teeth with cavities / teeth that have holes; more everyday

So if you are speaking casually, many people would more naturally say gigi berlubang.

For example:

• Kami memflos gigi agar gigi tidak berlubang.

This is less technical and often easier for learners to remember.

Yes, it could be omitted if the subject is clear from context.

Malay often drops subjects when they are understood. So you could say:

• Memflos gigi agar tidak mendapat karies gigi.

But without context, that can sound more like a general statement, note, or instruction rather than a full sentence about a specific we.

Including kami makes the subject explicit.

Because standard Malay word order is usually:

• Subject + Verb + Object

So:

• Kami = subject
• memflos = verb
• gigi = object

That gives:

• Kami memflos gigi

This is the normal order for a basic active sentence in Malay.

Yes. The original sentence is understandable, but some speakers might choose a smoother version depending on style.

Some natural alternatives are:

• Kami memflos gigi supaya tidak mengalami karies gigi.
• Kami menggunakan flos gigi untuk mencegah karies gigi.
• Kami memflos gigi agar gigi tidak berlubang.

These differ slightly in tone:

• memflos gigi = direct modern borrowing
• menggunakan flos gigi = a bit more explicit
• mencegah = prevent
• gigi berlubang = everyday wording

So the original is grammatical enough to understand, but it is not the only way, and not necessarily the most natural in all situations.