How to Choose the Best Dental Floss for Your Dental Needs
What Is Dental Floss?
Dental floss is a thin, soft thread that is used to clean the spaces between your teeth and along your gum line where your toothbrush can’t reach. It’s an essential tool for maintaining good oral hygiene and preventing gum disease and tooth decay. Flossing removes plaque, food particles, and bacteria that can build up between your teeth.
Dental floss comes in different types, textures, and flavors to suit your preferences and needs. Some flosses are made of nylon, while others are made of teflon or other materials. Some flosses are waxed to make them glide more easily between your teeth, while others are unwaxed for a more natural feel. You can choose from a variety of flavors, such as mint, cinnamon, and bubblegum, to make flossing more pleasant.
Before you visit your local pharmacy to buy Dental Floss, there are some things you should know as a dental patient:
- Why Should I Use Dental Floss?
- Proper Technique Using Dental Floss
- How Often Should I Use Dental Floss?
- Choosing The Right Type of Dental Floss
- Our Recommendations for Dental Floss
- Best Value Dental Floss: GUM ButlerWeave Dental Floss
- Best Teflon Dental Floss: Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Dental Floss
- Best Value Dental Flossers: Sunstar 888JC GUM Advanced Care Flossers
- Best Dental Floss For Hard-To-Reach Areas (Under Bridges Or Orthodontic Wires): Oral-B Super Floss
- Best Environmentally Friendly Dental Floss: BOONBOO Dental Floss
- Alternatives to Using Dental Floss
If you have questions about Dental Floss or if you need additional dental hygiene tips, please contact us for more information.
Why Should I Use Dental Floss?
Flossing is an essential part of good oral hygiene. Brushing alone is not enough to remove all the food particles and bacteria that can get stuck between your teeth and gums. Flossing helps to remove these particles and bacteria, preventing them from causing tooth decay and gum disease.
Here are some of the key benefits of using dental floss:
- Removes plaque: Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on your teeth and gums. Flossing helps to remove plaque from between your teeth and gums, preventing it from hardening into tartar.
- Prevents gum disease: Gum disease is a common condition that can cause inflammation, bleeding, and even tooth loss. Flossing helps to remove the bacteria that cause gum disease, keeping your gums healthy.
- Reduces bad breath: Food particles that get stuck between your teeth and gums can cause bad breath. Flossing helps to remove these particles, leaving your mouth feeling fresh and clean.
- Protects against cavities: Cavities are caused by bacteria that produce acid that can erode your tooth enamel. Flossing helps to remove the bacteria that cause cavities, reducing your risk of tooth decay.
Overall, flossing is an important part of maintaining good oral health. It only takes a few minutes a day and can make a big difference in the health of your teeth and gums. In the next section, we’ll discuss how to floss correctly.
Proper Technique Using Dental Floss
Flossing may seem simple, but there is a proper technique that can make it more effective. Here’s how to floss correctly:
- Start with a piece of floss about 12 inches long. Wind most of the floss around your middle fingers, leaving about 2 inches of floss to work with.
- Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and index fingers, with about an inch of floss taut between them.
- Gently slide the floss between your teeth using a sawing motion. Be careful not to snap the floss into your gums, as this can cause pain and bleeding.
- When you reach the gum line, curve the floss into a C-shape against one tooth and gently slide it into the space between the tooth and gum.
- Hold the floss against the tooth and gently scrape the side of the tooth in an up and down motion, moving the floss away from the gum. Repeat this motion on the other side of the same tooth. Doing this will effectively scrape away the plaque that clings onto the side of the tooth.
- Repeat this process on the rest of your teeth, using a fresh section of floss for each tooth. Don’t forget to floss behind your back teeth and along the gum line of your molars.
Remember to be gentle when flossing, as aggressive flossing can cause damage to your gums. If you have trouble flossing, ask your dentist or dental hygienist for tips and guidance.
How Often Should I Use Dental Floss?
Regular use of dental string floss is essential to maintain good oral hygiene. Flossing should be done at least once a day, ideally before bedtime. However, depending on your dental needs, it may benefit you to floss more often. Here are some tips to help you develop a regular brushing routine:
- Floss at least twice a day: Conventional wisdom says that you should floss at least twice a day, once in the morning and once before you go to bed. Two times a day is a good rule of thumb. Ideally, you should floss right after a meal. This is to maximize the amount of time your teeth stay clean between meals.
- Ideally floss after meals: If possible, floss your teeth after meals to remove food particles and bacteria that can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. If you make it a habit to floss right after breakfast, lunch and dinner, your teeth will theoretically remain clean throughout the day (except for the few minutes that you are eating).
- Floss more if you are having orthodontic treatment: If you have braces or orthodontic retainer wires, it’s especially important to floss regularly to prevent food from getting trapped in your braces and causing tooth decay or gum disease. Your orthodontist can provide you with special tools to make flossing easier with braces.
- When you cannot brush your teeth, rinse with water or mouthwash: It is sometimes not practical to be flossing more than two times a day. You may be busy at work or at school during your day and cannot find time to floss after lunch. If this is the case, at least rinse with water or mouthwash to get as much food debris and taste out of your mouth.
In addition to flossing, it’s important to brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, visit your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings, and eat a balanced diet low in sugar and processed foods. By taking care of your oral health, you can enjoy a healthy, beautiful smile for years to come.
Choosing The Right Type of Dental Floss
There are many types of dental floss available, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. Here are some things to consider when choosing the right type of dental floss for your needs:
- Thickness: Dental floss comes in different thicknesses, from thin to thick. Thicker floss may be more effective at removing plaque and food particles, but it can be more difficult to use, especially if you have tight spaces between your teeth.
- Wax coating: Some dental floss is coated with wax, which can make it easier to slide between your teeth. However, waxed floss may not be as effective at removing plaque as unwaxed floss.
- Flavored or unflavored: Some dental floss is flavored, which can make flossing a more pleasant experience. However, if you have sensitive teeth or gums, you may prefer unflavored floss.
- Type of material: Dental floss can be made from nylon, silk, teflon, or other materials. Nylon floss is the most common type and is generally the most affordable. Silk floss is softer and may be better for people with sensitive gums. Teflon is also known as polytetrafluoroethylene. It is a type of plastic that is used to make dental floss that glides smoothly between teeth and is less likely to shred.
- Special features: Some dental floss comes with special features, such as built-in toothpicks or flossers, which can make flossing easier and more convenient.
Ultimately, the best type of dental floss for you is the one that you will use regularly and that feels comfortable for your teeth and gums. If you have any questions about which type of floss is right for you, talk to your dentist or dental hygienist.
Our Recommendations for Dental Floss
With so many options available on the market, it can be difficult to choose the best dental floss for your needs. To help narrow down your search, here are some of our top recommendations for dental floss:
Introducing the GUM ButlerWeave Dental Floss – the best value dental floss on the market. With its unique woven design, this floss is gentle on gums but tough on plaque and food particles, making it a must-have for anyone who cares about their oral health. Made with a special weave that resists shredding, this floss is designed to glide smoothly between teeth, even in tight spaces. Its refreshing mint flavor leaves your mouth feeling clean and fresh. Each package contains 200 yards of floss, providing plenty of floss for months of use. Plus, the convenient dispenser makes it easy to use and store. Trust GUM ButlerWeave Dental Floss for an effective and affordable way to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Order now and experience the best value dental floss on the market!
If you’re looking for a floss that glides smoothly between your teeth, the Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Dental Floss is a great choice. This floss is made with a special type of Teflon material that allows it to slide easily between even the tightest spaces in your teeth.
The Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Dental Floss is also shred-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about it fraying or breaking as you floss. It’s gentle on your gums and won’t leave behind a waxy residue, making it a comfortable and effective option for daily use.
In addition to its effectiveness, the Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Dental Floss has a refreshing mint flavor that leaves your mouth feeling clean and fresh. With a convenient dispenser that makes it easy to access and use, this floss is a top choice for those who want the best Teflon floss on the market.
Overall, the Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Dental Floss is an excellent option for anyone who wants a smooth, effective flossing experience. With its Teflon material, shred-resistant design, and refreshing mint flavor, this floss is sure to leave your teeth and gums feeling healthy and clean.
If you’re looking for a convenient and effective way to floss your teeth, the Sunstar 888JC GUM Advanced Care Flossers are an excellent option. This Nylon string floss features a unique angled design that makes it easy to reach all areas of your mouth, including tight spaces between your teeth and gums.
The Sunstar 888JC GUM Advanced Care Flossers are also designed with a comfortable grip that makes them easy to hold and maneuver. They’re pre-strung with high-quality dental floss that effectively removes plaque and debris from your teeth and gums, making them a great option for daily use.
In addition to their effectiveness, the Sunstar 888JC GUM Advanced Care Flossers are also a great value. You get 150 flossers in each package, making them a cost-effective option for those who want to maintain good oral hygiene without spending a lot of money.
Overall, the Sunstar 888JC GUM Advanced Care Flossers are an excellent option for anyone who wants a convenient and effective way to floss their teeth. With their unique angled design, comfortable grip, high-quality floss, and great value, these flossers are sure to leave your teeth and gums feeling healthy and clean.
If you have braces, dental bridges, fixed orthodontic wires, dental implants, or other dental work that makes it difficult to floss your teeth, the Oral-B Super Floss is an excellent option. This floss features a unique three-part design that makes it easy to clean around braces, bridges, and other hard-to-reach areas.
The first part of the Oral-B Super Floss is a stiffened end that allows you to easily thread the floss under braces and other dental appliances. The second part is a spongy section that cleans around the appliances and removes plaque and debris from your teeth and gums. Finally, the third part is regular floss that cleans the spaces between your teeth.
The Oral-B Super Floss is also designed with a wax coating that helps it slide easily between your teeth and gums. It’s gentle on your gums and won’t shred or break as you floss, making it a comfortable and effective option for daily use.
Overall, the Oral-B Super Floss is an excellent option for anyone who needs a floss that can effectively clean hard-to-reach areas. With its unique three-part design, wax coating, and effectiveness, this floss is sure to leave your teeth and gums feeling healthy and clean.
If you’re looking for a dental floss that is both effective and environmentally friendly, the Ohm Earth’s Ohm Floss is an excellent option. This floss is made from natural silk and is completely biodegradable, making it a great choice for those who are conscious about their environmental impact.
The Ohm Floss is naturally waxed with a plant-based Candelillia coating that helps it slide easily between your teeth and gums. It’s gentle on your gums and won’t shred or break as you floss, making it a comfortable and effective option for daily use.
In addition to its effectiveness and eco-friendliness, the Ohm Floss comes in a bamboo container that is easy to refill and reuse. This reduces waste and makes it easy to keep your floss organized and accessible.
Overall, the Ohm Floss is an excellent option for anyone who wants an environmentally friendly and effective dental floss. With its natural silk construction, non-toxic wax coating, and reusable glass container, this floss is sure to leave your teeth and gums feeling healthy and clean while also reducing your environmental impact.
Alternatives to Using Dental Floss
While dental floss is a highly effective tool for removing plaque and food particles from between teeth, there are some alternatives that can be used in certain situations:
- Interdental brushes: These small brushes are designed to fit between teeth and can be used to remove plaque and debris. They are especially effective for people with braces or dental implants.
- Water flossers: Also known as oral irrigators, these devices use a stream of water to clean between teeth and along the gum line. They can be especially helpful for people with sensitive gums or those who have trouble using traditional dental floss.
While these alternatives can be helpful in certain situations, they should not be used as a substitute for regular flossing. Flossing is an important part of maintaining good oral hygiene and preventing tooth decay and gum disease. If you have any questions about how to floss properly or which tools are right for you, talk to your dentist or dental hygienist.
