Just like wearing sunscreen, proper oral hygiene — which, after all, should include flossing with only the best floss options around — should hold a reasonably outstanding place in your every day personal-care routine with a view to stave off issues like gum disease, plaque buildup, and gingivitis. Not only do we would like you to enter your next dentist appointment feeling confident, but to also recognize that there is more to oral health than simply brushing. In fact, strong, healthy teeth and fresh breath depend greatly on gum health, so even the fanciest electric toothbrush options cannot fully replace one of the best dental flosses available on the market.
“Flossing is a particularly necessary a part of preventative dental care,” says board-certified dentist Ira Handschuh, DDS, who relies in White Plains, New York. “It is admittedly the one way patients can clean in between teeth since a toothbrush cannot get in between contact areas of teeth.”
It’s so much easier said than done, though. New York City-based board-certified cosmetic dentist Greg Gelfand, DDS understands the struggle. “The truth is that almost all people don’t floss and will be ashamed of their less-than-ideal oral-care routine,” he says. “It might be tough for some to go from not using floss to revamping their entire routine.” But the extra step has big advantages in the long term.
That’s why Dr. Gelfand advises people to ease into flossing and grow with time. “Perhaps start with just the front teeth and add more teeth to your routine because the week progresses,” he suggests. “With this phase-in approach, you may go from not flossing in any respect to hopefully constructing a habit out of it.” According to Dr. Handschuh, a powerful flossing routine means cleansing between teeth no less than once each day to remove plaque and bacteria out of your gumline and between your teeth. “I suggest that each one my patients floss once per day at the side of brushing two to 3 times per day,” he says.
Flossing practices aside, a great place to start is by finding a favourite floss, which many of the experts we spoke with agree simply comes right down to preference — in any case, between cordless water flossers, traditional floss, and string floss picks, there are nearly-endless options for plaque removal. “There are so many floss options available on the market,” says board-certified cosmetic dentist Sharon Huang, DDS, who relies in New York City. “The best floss is the floss you enjoy and can use every day.”
To help narrow down your options — and more importantly, to ensure that you’re going to find one you like — we rounded up nine different at-home flossing products, really helpful by the professionals. There are basic but effective classic options, proxabrushes, and even a water-powered flosser à la Waterpik in the combo. Keep scrolling to see what dentists suggest for at-home oral upkeep.
Our Top Picks:
- Best Overall: Cocofloss Delicious Mint Dental Floss, $10
- Best Single-Use Floss Picks: Oral-B Glide Floss Picks, $4
- Best Refillable Floss Pick: Quip Refillable Floss Pick, $17
- Best Floss Flavor: Reach Pop Dental Floss, $6
- Best Charcoal-Infused Floss: Burst Expanding Floss Refillable Set, $12
- Best Water Flosser: Waterpik White Aquarius Water Flosser, $80
- Best Floss for Braces: GumChucks, $10
