Photo-Illustration: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
We all know that when it comes to hygiene, flossing can feel like a chore. But by flossing, you remove plaque, which in turn prevents bacterial changes that lead to gum disease. Many of the dentists I spoke to emphasized that flossing daily is the best way to keep your mouth clean and healthy. “The best floss is the one you are motivated to use daily. It really narrows down to personal preference, taste, flavor, and how it feels in your hand,” says Dr. Sharon Huang, the founder of Les Belles NYC. To that end, I spoke to ten dentists to weigh in on the flosses they recommend for a variety of needs like tight spaces, larger gaps, and eco-friendliness. And, if you’re looking for even more oral-care stories, I have roundups on the best toothbrushes, toothpastes, and even water flossers, in case that’s more up your alley.
I was recommended floss made from a wide variety of materials, ranging from PTFE and nylon to recycled polyester and biodegradable silk. On top of that, brands use different waxes and oils to help the thread glide through teeth more easily. What you pick depends on preference, so you might want to try flosses made of different materials to see what works best for you. I included as much information as I could on both fronts, but some of the wax and thread materials weren’t fully disclosed.
Like the above, this comes down to preference, but dentists I spoke to gave some advice on how to shop. Smoother flosses are better for tight spaces and crowded teeth, while thick-textured and spongy flosses are best for larger gaps. It’s not a hard-and-fast rule, but it could help as you’re shopping.
Material: Partly recycled polyester filaments, microcrystalline wax, coconut oil, essential oils | Textured
Cocolab (formerly known as Cocofloss), is the brainchild of the Cu sisters, Chrystal (a dentist) and Cat (an artist). It was most recommended by the dentists I spoke to because it’s well-designed, comes in a wide variety of flavors, and is super-effective at removing plaque without hurting the gums. It’s soft yet textured, so it helps adhere to the tooth and remove debris more effectively, explains Dr. Huang. Plus, the string has a coating of coconut oil, which has antimicrobial properties and is also naturally soothing to gum tissue. I’ve tried the floss out for myself and can agree with everything the dentists said. The floss is a little thicker than drugstore flosses I’m used to, but I think it helps to grab more plaque and it’s not so thick that it can’t get in between areas where my teeth are more crowded.
Material: Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), natural wax | Smooth
Oral-B’s Glide floss comes out to a little less than $4 per pack of floss, making it a more affordable option than the above. Dentists recommend it because it’s smooth, strong, and can easily glide in tight places. It’s a waxed floss, meaning it “won’t get stuck in areas of tight contacts between teeth or on teeth restorations,” explains Dr. Rashmi Ambewadikar, a dentist at Astoria Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, who’s been using the floss since she got a free sample of it in dental school. One potential downside dentists noted is that it may not remove plaque as effectively as unwaxed floss, but it’s worth trying out if you want an inexpensive, easily accessible drugstore option.
Material: Silk, vegan wax, jojoba oil | Smooth
If you’re looking for a floss that’s plastic-free, Dr. Huang pointed us to the brand by Human Kind. The floss is made of biodegradable silk and coated with a vegan wax and jojoba oil, which is supposed to soothe and moisturize gums. It comes in two flavor options, peppermint and cardamom. Silk is known to be softer than traditional nylon floss, and Dr. Huang says it’s still effective at plaque removal. The one downside to this floss is that it’s on the pricey side. One 30-yard spool of floss (sans container) costs $12.
Material: Silk, coconut oil | Textured
Radius was another silk-floss brand recommended by dentists, including Dr. Mark Burhenne, founder of AsktheDentist.com and the author of The 8-Hour Sleep Paradox, who uses it himself. A pack of six costs a little over $20, making it a much more affordable option. It’s also waxed to help pick up debris between teeth but doesn’t include jojoba oil. And, it comes in a nice variety of flavors: peppermint, vanilla mint, cardamom, and unflavored.
Material: Nylon | Spongy and smooth
Flossing with braces is a challenge, but the design of these “super floss” strands from Oral-B helps, according to two dentists I spoke to. Each precut strand has a rigid plastic coating on the end that helps you easily grip the floss and thread it under the wires. The floss also has a spongy section, which helps clean around gaps and wide spaces, and a smooth section similar to traditional nylon floss, which helps clean under the gumline.
Material: Nylon | Textured
Floss picks are a convenient option for on-the-go cleaning, but just note that they’re not as effective as traditional floss. “It’s difficult to wrap a floss pick around a tooth in a C-shape,” explains Dr. Huang, adding that most floss picks “bottom out” before reaching the bottom of the tooth’s sulcus (the space between the tooth surface and the surrounding gum tissue). If you want them for when you’re out and about or to help you get into the habit of flossing, she recommends Dentek floss picks. The floss itself is strong and textured, and the pick doubles as a tongue scraper.
Material: Straw wheat, PLA, natural flavor (mint), nylon-4 | Smooth
Dr. Mariam Zade, a board-certified orthodontist, repeated the same sentiments about floss picks as Dr. Huang above, adding that they can produce a lot of waste. Instead of plastic floss picks, she recommends these from SmartLifeCo. The handle’s made out of biodegradable straw wheat and the thread’s made out of nylon-4, a type of biodegradable nylon.
Material: Nylon | Smooth
Dr. Ambewadikar says parents should help children with flossing until they’re around 6 to 8 years old, since it takes some time to develop the dexterity to do it properly. While they’re learning, floss picks are an excellent easy-to-grip option. Gum came up a couple of times for its colorful packaging and fun flavors, including these long-handled ones that Los Angeles–based cosmetic and general dentist Dr. Jon Marashi’s kids use themselves.
• Dr. Rashmi Ambewadikar, dentist at Astoria Smiles Pediatric Dentistry
• Dr. Mark Burhenne, founder of AsktheDentist.com and author of The 8-Hour Sleep Paradox
• Dr. Jeremy Dixon, dentist at Gramercy Pediatric Dentistry
• Dr. Sharon Huang, founder of Les Belles NYC
• Dr. Zachary E. Linhart, dentist at Manhattan Dental Health
• Dr. Jon Marashi, cosmetic dentist
• Dr. Saddia Patton, dentist at Downtown Dental
• Dr. Jennifer Plotnick, dentist at Grand Street Dental
• Dr. Ramin Tabib of NYC Smile Design
• Dr. Mariam Zade, board-certified orthodontist
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