The best dental floss is the one you will actually use every day. Waxed string, dental tape, floss picks and water flossers can all clean between your teeth, and the right choice depends on your spacing and your grip. A hygienist can help you choose during a professional teeth cleaning.
By Dr. Eric Lernor, DDS, Family Dentist, Lernor Family Dental
The best dental floss for your teeth is the one that fits your spacing and your habits. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends cleaning between your teeth once a day, and it does not name a single winning product. Many floss and interdental products carry the ADA Seal of Acceptance, which means the ADA reviewed the maker's safety and cleaning claims.
Here is how the main options compare.
| Floss type | Best for | Drawback |
|---|---|---|
| Waxed string floss | Tight contacts, since the wax helps it glide through | Can feel thin in wider gaps |
| Unwaxed string floss | Very small spaces | May shred on rough edges |
| Dental tape | Wider gaps and sensitive gums | Too bulky for very tight teeth |
| Floss picks | Back teeth, one-handed use, limited dexterity | One strand is reused from gap to gap |
| Water flossers | Braces, bridges and implants | Needs counter space and an outlet or charge |
Of the aforementioned options, string and tape travel easily and take little room, while picks and water flossers trade some precision for convenience. Pick the one you will reach for at 10 p.m. when you are tired. That choice does more for your oral health and daily dental care than any label.
Is waxed or unwaxed floss better?
Waxed floss carries a thin wax coating that helps it slide between teeth and resist fraying. Unwaxed floss is thinner and can fit very small spaces, but it may shred on rough edges. Neither is better for everyone, so the choice comes down to preference. Most string floss is made of nylon, though some varieties use a stretchier, shred-resistant material.
Flavors such as mint and cinnamon make the habit more pleasant for some people. Unscented floss suits anyone bothered by strong tastes. Flavor usually changes comfort, not cleaning. Dental tapes are flatter and wider than regular floss, so many people with open spacing like them.
Best floss for tight teeth
If floss shreds or snaps between your teeth, try waxed floss or a thin tape with soft coatings that cut friction. Slide it in with a gentle sawing motion instead of forcing it down, since a hard snap can bruise the gums. If every type catches in the same spot, a rough filling edge or a worn crown margin may be the cause, so mention that spot at your next cleaning. Tooth spacing also varies from one side of the mouth to the other, so keeping two variations of floss by the sink is perfectly normal.
Is Flossing Necessary?
A news story a few years back called flossing a myth, and plenty of people stopped. So, is flossing necessary? The honest answer has two parts.
First, the research. Cochrane reviews of flossing trials have rated the evidence that floss adds to brushing as low certainty, partly because the studies are short and hard to standardize. That is a comment on study quality, not proof that cleaning between teeth does nothing. The ADA still recommends cleaning between your teeth daily.
Second, the mechanism. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on every tooth surface, including the sides where teeth touch and a toothbrush cannot reach. Plaque left in place is associated with gum disease, which is inflammation of the gums that can progress to bone loss. After a few days it can harden into tartar, which only a hygienist can scrape off.
Technique matters more than the product. A quick snap down the middle of a gap skips the curve of each tooth just under the gumline, where plaque collects. A slower pass with any tool reaches more. That is why we talk about how you clean, not which box you buy.
Floss Picks vs String Floss: Which Works Better?
A floss pick is a small plastic instrument, often shaped like a Y, that holds a short length of strung floss. Floss picks work with one hand, reach back teeth easily, and help kids and anyone with stiff fingers. Their drawbacks are real, though. You cannot swap in a fresh section as you move between teeth, so bacteria travel from gap to gap, and the straight strand is harder to hug around each tooth.
String floss lets you use a clean section for every gap and wrap it in a C shape around each tooth. It takes a few weeks to master. For most mouths, string floss usually reaches more of the tooth surface, while picks win on convenience. Picks you use nightly beat string that stays in the drawer.
Dental bridges, a connected row of crowns that fills a gap, hide the space under the false tooth, so plain string and picks cannot reach it without a floss threader or a water flosser.
Water Flosser vs Floss: Which Cleans Better?
Water flossers aim a pulsing stream of water at the gumline and between teeth. They rinse out food and loosen plaque without any wrapping. In a water flosser vs floss comparison, the studies are mixed. In some, water flossers were associated with less gum bleeding than brushing alone, especially for people with braces. String and tape physically wipe the film off the tooth, which a stream of water may not match exactly.
Water flossers do help where string struggles: around braces, implants and under bridges. They need counter space, an outlet or a charge, and a minute or two each night. The goal is clean teeth, and either tool can get you there when used with care.
Can a water flosser replace string floss completely?
For some people, with a dentist's agreement, a water flosser may be enough. For others, tight contacts still call for string. Many dental teams suggest using a water flosser alongside string for people with bridges, implants or gum concerns. Your provider decides what fits you, because it depends on your spacing, gum health and dexterity.
How to Floss Properly
String floss rewards a steady routine. Follow these steps:
- Cut about 18 inches of floss. Wind most of it around one middle finger and a little around the other.
- Pinch the floss between your thumbs and forefingers, leaving about an inch to work with.
- Guide it between two teeth with a gentle sawing motion. Never snap it onto the gum.
- Curve the floss into a C against one tooth and slide it just under the gumline.
- Rub up and down against the tooth, then curve it around the neighboring tooth and repeat.
- Move to a clean section for each gap, and finish behind your last back tooth.
How often should you floss each day?
Once a day is the usual advice, and the time of day matters less than doing it consistently. Many people floss at bedtime so plaque is not left overnight. More is not necessarily better, since hard, repeated passes can irritate the gums. Regular flossing at a calm pace beats occasional marathon sessions, and your dentist can suggest a routine for your mouth.
Is it bad to floss with bleeding gums?
Inflamed gums may bleed when you first start cleaning between teeth, and many people see that ease after a week or two of gentle, daily flossing. Do not stop. Bleeding that continues, or comes with swelling, pain or bad breath that will not go away, may point to gum disease or another problem, and only an exam can sort out which. Lernor Family Dental has served Scottsdale families since 2003, and the hygiene team in our General Dentistry office checks your gums at each cleaning. They can show you which tool fits your teeth, bridges or implants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can flossing help with bad breath?
It may. Food and plaque trapped between teeth give bacteria something to break down, and that process can make breath smell sour. Cleaning those spaces daily removes the source for many people. Bad breath also comes from the tongue, dry mouth, gum disease and other causes, so breath that smells bad despite good cleaning deserves a dental exam.
What floss is most recommended by dentists?
Dentists tend to recommend whichever type you will use every day, not one brand. Waxed string and dental tape are common starting points, and picks or water flossers suit people who struggle with string. Look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance on the package, then ask your hygienist to watch you floss and adjust from there.
What is the best dental floss for plaque removal?
No single type has been shown to beat the rest. Plaque comes off when floss is wrapped around the tooth and wiped against it, so technique counts as much as material. Waxed floss glides through tight contacts, tape covers wider surfaces, and water flossers help around braces and implants. Choose the one that lets you reach every gap.
Can flossing hurt my gums?
Gentle flossing should not cause lasting pain. Snapping floss down onto the gum or sawing hard can bruise or cut the tissue. Use a slow sawing motion, curve the floss against each tooth, and stop if a spot stays sore or keeps bleeding. A hygienist can check your technique and your gums at your next cleaning.
Find the Floss That Fits Your Smile
Bring the floss you use now to your next visit, and Dr. Lernor's team will help you match a tool to your teeth and gums. To choose a time, use the Book Appointment page.