The Best Dental Floss Types For You
Earlier, we talked about how to floss your teeth. Now we will get into the nitty-gritty about choosing dental floss types. Not all mouths are the same and what works for some definitely won’t work for everyone. With so many dental floss types to choose from, making an informed decision can seem like a daunting task. We’re here to help. If you’ve ever wondered what dental floss to use, this is for you.
Waxed Dental Floss
Coming out of the gate strong, this floss is the boss with effortless gliding between evenly spaced teeth. The wax also strengthens the floss and prevents it from fraying too easily.
Pros: Easy gliding between teeth. Strong and won’t easily break or fray.
Cons: Because of the wax, this dental floss is thicker. If some of your teeth are tight together, you may need to look at an unwaxed floss.
Unwaxed Floss
For mouths with teeth close together, unwaxed floss can be a lifesaver. It’s easier to maneuver in tight spaces, but because it doesn’t have a protective wax coating, this floss can fray and break faster.
Pros: Thinner, which is helpful in mouths with crowded teeth. If there are unwanted chemicals in your waxed floss, you won’t find those here.
Cons: The biggest downside to unwaxed floss is that it frays and breaks without a wax coating.
PTFE Floss
Is this gore-tex? Well, kinda. PTFE Floss is made with polytetrafluorethylene, a material used to make gore-tex fabric. It’s highly effective at sliding between tight teeth.
Pros: Doesn’t shred easily. Perhaps even better at getting between crowded teeth than waxed floss.
Cons: Because of the Teflon-like substance that coats the floss, concern has grown about the harmful health effects of this floss. Consult with our team before using it.
Dental Tape
Flatter and broader than what you might expect from a dental floss, dental tape is great for people with larger spaces between their teeth.
Pros: Comes in waxed and unwaxed options. Also helpful for people with bridgework.
Cons: Dental tape is not a good choice of floss if your teeth are close together or crowded.
Water Flosser
This might seem like a more extravagant option, but water flossers are becoming more popular. For good reasons: they are readily affordable, easy to use and effective.
Pros: Proven to be better than regular floss at reducing gingivitis, gingival bleeding, and removing plaque.
Cons: While cost-per-use goes down over time, the initial investment for a water flosser is more than what you pay for a pack of regular dental floss.
The Floss Pick
Floss picks are great for people on the go. They’re small plastic tools with a short bit of floss attached—perfect to carry with you during busy days. They’re also great for teaching kids how to floss.
There’s more to flossing than just the floss type. Talk to us today to learn more.
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