Why Flossing Is Essential for Oral Health 

Regular flossing is crucial for dental hygiene as an ordinary toothbrush can’t reach tight gaps between your teeth. Different floss types effectively remove plaque and debris between teeth and along the gum line. The surprising benefits of flossing include:

• tartar and gum disease prevention;
• reduced risk of cavities;
• minimizing bad breath; 
• decreased risk of heart failure (oral and heart health are interlinked).

Good floss for teeth doesn’t cost a fortune but significantly contributes to oral hygiene and overall health.

Main Types of Dental Floss

To understand which floss is best, examine the key floss types and evaluate their benefits and drawbacks.

1. Waxed and Unwaxed Dental Floss

Waxed dental floss is made of nylon covered with a thin layer of wax, so it’s a bit thicker than the unwaxed option. It’s the best type of dental floss if your teeth are tightly spaced or you have retainers on your front teeth after orthodontic treatment. It might be tricky to squeeze a piece of unwaxed dental floss between the tiny tooth gaps, and sturdy waxed floss effectively handles the task.

Pros	Cons
Smoothly glides between the teeth;Doesn’t break much during flossing;Often pleasantly flavored;Contributes to fresh breath.	The wax coating might hinder cleaning debris in excessively tight areas.

Unwaxed floss is also made of nylon but is thinner than waxed tape. This type of floss is equally efficient in removing plaque, so it’s mainly a matter of personal choice.

Pros	Cons
Comfortable to clean in between teeth;Commonly free from artificial flavors;Less chemicals.	Might continuously break while flossing.

2. Dental Tape

Dental tape is broader and flatter than floss. It suits people with wider-than-average interdental gaps and those with low manual dexterity.

Pros	Cons
Great for people with wider interdental gaps; A soft texture is gentle for sensitive gums;Facilitates sliding in tight contact points between teeth.	Can easily tear;Less control in narrow spaces.

Convenient and Specialized Flossing Tools

A variety of flossing options includes specialized utensils that can help you get between your teeth more conveniently than ordinary floss.

1. Floss Picks

If you struggle with wrapping a piece of floss around your fingers, try an easier alternative — various types of floss picks. These are D-shaped plastic tools equipped with a handle and a short piece of floss fastened between two posts. Conceding on cleaning quality to dental floss and tape, floss picks are convenient for kids and seniors who lack dexterity. 

Pros	Cons
The handle is easy to hold;Easy to maneuver while flossing back teeth.	Redistribute bacteria around the mouth;Not that effective for tightly packed teeth;Can’t be curved into various angles.

2. Floss Threaders

If you have braces, fixed retainers, or bridges, traditional flossing might not suffice to clean certain areas. Floss threaders require some time to master the technique, but they efficiently glide through dental appliances, helping you prevent cavities and gum disease.

Pros	Cons
Perfect for patients with orthodontic devices;Cost-effective option.	Disposable;Require some manual skills;Time-consuming process.

3. Platypus Ortho Flossers

If you have braces but find using floss threaders tiresome, consider Platypus Ortho Flossers. Their patented structure resembles a floss pick, but the thought-out design does not damage brackets or archwires.

Pros	Cons
Seamlessly move between teeth and braces;No threading is needed;Convenient and speedy flossing in less than 2 minutes;Regular use helps avoid periodontal disease and tooth decay.	The price exceeds the floss threaders’ cost;Meant for a single use;Mostly available online.

4. Proxabrush (Interdental Brush)

Proxabrush is an effective interdental cleaner for home use. It resembles a stiff mascara brush combined with a toothpick, which is great for people with wider gaps between their teeth. Proxabrush is suitable for everyone, except for patients with damaged gums or little-to-no interdental spaces.

Pros	Cons
Helps get rid of plaque and bacteria between teeth;Regular use prevents cavities and gum disease;The handle makes it more comfortable to use than dental floss.	You need to replace brush heads every two weeks.

5. Soft Picks

Soft picks resemble a Proxabrush but are slightly thinner and thus more suitable for tight interdental areas. Their ultra-soft bristles are made of rubber, and some manufacturers provide compact cases to make devices convenient for travel. Soft picks suit people with small interdental spaces, braces, bridges, and other orthodontic appliances.

Pros	Cons
Soft rubber bristles comfortably slide between teeth;Perfect for cleaning between the front teeth;Easy to carry and use on the go.	Partially clean the tooth’s surface, making them less effective than dental floss.

Electric Flossing Devices

If you lack manual dexterity or have orthodontic appliances, conventional types of floss are not the best floss to use. Then you might want to enrich your flossing routine with potent electric tools.

1. Vibrating Flossers

Vibrating or electric flossers resemble dental tape but have a handle that vibrates. This is especially convenient for older patients who struggle to get conventional floss around their fingers.

Pros	Cons
Help eliminate plaque and food debris from hard-to-reach areas;Reduce the flossing time;Gently massage the gums;Prevent food particles from packing between tooth contacts.	During the first use, you might have trouble getting the floss out of the tight areas;You need additional replacements as one lasts around a week.

2. Water Flossers (Oral Irrigators)

This device relies on a thin, pressurized stream of water to clean between teeth and along gum pockets. Diverse attachments make it suitable for everyone. Oral irrigators have proven their efficiency at cleaning hard-to-reach areas, so they are widely used in orthodontics.

Pros	Cons
You have full control over the device (can adjust the water pressure, pick the necessary tip, etc.);Indispensable for patients with braces or dental implants;Reduced risk of gum disease;1 minute is usually enough to clean the entire mouth;Some models enable you to mix water with mouthwash for an enhanced cleaning experience.	Some devices are hefty and complicated to store and carry;Need water and electricity to work;More expensive than traditional floss strings.

How to Choose the Best Floss Based on Your Dental Needs

Always put your dental needs first when deciding what floss is best. We’ve compiled a brief chart for your convenience, matching an oral issue with a corresponding floss type. 

Dental Issue	Floss Type
Regularly spaced teeth	Waxed dental floss, unwaxed dental floss, dental tape, water flossers
Tightly spaced teeth	Unwaxed dental floss, soft picks
Wide interdental gaps	Dental tape, Proxabrush
Orthodontic appliances (braces, fixed retainers, and bridges)	Floss threaders, Platypus Ortho Flossers, oral irrigators, soft picks
Kids, seniors, or people with low dexterity	Floss picks, Proxabrush, vibrating flossers, water flossers

Kickstart a Regular Flossing Routine!

Given the importance of regular flossing for oral health, skipping it is a crime against your smile. Keep our tips in mind and identify your dental needs to pick a convenient flossing method without compromising the quality of cleanliness. If you still doubt what is the best floss to use, experienced doctors in the Dental Office in Forest Hills, NY can offer the best kind of floss based on your dental structure.

Frequently Asked Questions About Types of Dental Floss

Additional Resources

Explore the comparison of interdental brushes versus dental floss to decide what is the best floss for you.