Floss. It usually comes after dinner or when you brush your teeth. It’s a must-have yet somehow always feels optional. You know you should do it. You just don’t want to. While we’ve all been there at one time or another, it’s important to remember to floss. And to make it easier to get the job done, opt for the best floss, according to dental experts. They know the ins and outs of teeth and recommend the brands in the list below time and time again.
Need some inspiration to floss? You should know that oral health can impact more than just your mouth! According to an international study, people with poor dental hygiene are 21 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease later in life. And that’s not all. Those with bad teeth or failing oral health are also 23 percent more likely to experience cognitive decline, which can eventually lead to memory loss and other devastating conditions.
Despite the repercussions, some people will just do just about anything to not floss — even if food is stuck in their teeth. A survey revealed some picky habits, with 61 percent of respondents admitting to using their fingernails as makeshift dental tools. Folded paper or cards, cutlery, safety pins and even strands of hair were popular choices, too. But it could be risky business using these unconventional “tools” to floss.
You know your dentist wants you to do it, so find a floss that will help you do it like a boss! With any of the top five best floss brands recommended by dental experts, you can reap the benefits of a healthy smile. After all, these are the number one products, meaning you won’t be dealing with shredding strings while you’re trying to get to those hard-to-reach molars. Let us know in the comments if you have a favorite floss that wasn’t mentioned!
The List: Best Floss, According to Dental Experts
1. Cocofloss Coconut-Oil Dental Floss
Dentists rave about this popular floss brand known for its soft texture and subtle coconut flavor. Verywell Health ranks this number one, and here’s why: “It might look a little gimmicky, but the brightly-colored, attention-grabbing Cocofloss is our top pick because it was created by a dentist who knew people needed something a little flashy in order to commit to the healthy routine of daily flossing. Chrystle Cu, DDS, invented Cocofloss — a chemical-free floss infused with coconut oil and made of more than 500 grippy, plaque-busting fibers for a deeply effective yet soothing clean.”
Dental Professionals love the flavors: “Multiple hygienists on the Dental Professionals team raved about this product and use it themselves as their go-to floss at home. Made from coconut, the texture is thick and fibrous. Zhanna likes that it doesn’t shred and loves the variety of flavors, saying ‘it comes in mint, different fruit flavors, chocolate, and even gelato.’”
The Strategist adds that it’s dentist recommended: “‘My favorite floss — and the one I hand out to all my patients — is Cocofloss,’ says Plotnick. The floss has a unique thread that is ‘soft, yet textured,’ which makes it super-effective at removing plaque without hurting the gums, explains Dr. Saddia Patton of Downtown Dental.’”
2. Listerine Ultraclean Dental Floss
This is a top-rated floss brand recommended by dental experts for its ability to remove plaque and tough buildup. NewMouth picks this as a solid option: “Johnson & Johnson Listerine Ultraclean (formerly Reach) is a great all-around floss and is often recommended by dentists and hygienists. It does a great job of removing plaque buildup that brushing misses, and it is nice and thick, so it won’t shred while you’re flossing. Plus, it has a fresh cool mint flavor.”
“Not only does the micro-groove technology grab double the plaque it grabs, it is also one of Dr. Dumanian’s favorites because ‘it is thin and doesn’t shred or break,’” Esquire says.
Dental Professionals raves: “If one of our hygienist’s favorite floss wasn’t Cocofloss, then it was Listerine Floss, by Johnson and Johnson (formerly called Reach Dental Floss). Carrie, a Dental Professionals hygienist of 22 years, uses this as her personal floss, saying she feels ‘the lighter wax coating wipes plaque off better.'”
3. Quip Refillable Floss Pick
Floss picks are small sticks with floss attached, making it easier to reach between your teeth. But, they can often be wasteful. With this brand, you don’t have to worry about that!
NBC News thinks this is an eco-friendly and easy-to-use option: “Quip’s Refillable Floss Pick comes with a plastic or metal dispensing case that holds the pick and mint floss. The case also has a mirror for on-the-go flossing. You can restring the pick with each use by pressing the ‘Q’ button on its handle. One floss refill pod — which is recyclable and available to reorder online — replaces over 180 single-use plastic floss picks, according to Quip. The floss string also expands while you’re using it.”
“Floss picks have proven a popular alternative to standard string floss for many users, making it easier to reach those tricky teeth, and without any winding of floss string around fingers to worry about. But floss pick fans are soon confronted with a new hassle: the abundance of picks, plastic or otherwise, clogging up their cabinets and ultimately filling up their trash. The Quip refillable floss pick resolves that problem, offering a reusable handle that can be easily refilled with strands of floss from the included floss pod,” Best Products reviews.
4. Dr. Tung’s Smart Floss
A unique floss brand, Dr. Tung’s is made from a biodegradable material that expands during use to better remove plaque and food particles from between teeth. Verywell Health chose this as their best-tasting product: “there’s no overpowering flavor here, only a light, refreshing burst of cardamom (which, if you don’t know, tastes vaguely herbal, like a blend of citrus and eucalyptus).”
Grove Collaborative thinks this is a smart choice for floss: “This natural Dr. Tung’s Smart Floss has the amazing ability to instantly adapt to the unique contours of your teeth. The floss stretches and expands, creating a larger surface area to better remove plaque and food particles. In fact, this smart dental floss is clinically proven to remove up to 55% more plaque than other common floss types.”
My Dental Advocate says you’ll love these features: “This floss was very comfortable around the fingers and between the teeth. There was no shred, and plaque removal was excellent. The container has a very sturdy and functional design. The natural cardamom flavor was enjoyable and different than your typical mint flavoring. I was also pleased with its ability to slide through the contacts, considering its thickness compared to other products. Lastly, their company mission is impactful, and it’s great that they use natural ingredients.”
5. Burst Expanding Floss
This gentle, yet effective floss expands to better clean between teeth, leaving a refreshing minty flavor. Spy.com highly recommends this transforming floss: “One thing you probably never knew existed? Black floss. Yeah, that’s right, instead of making their floss white the way every other floss brand in the world does, Burst created an all-blast floss that helps you visually see immediate results due to the contrasting colorway. Gross, yet helpful. It has a charcoal coating (which is way trendy right now) that literally absorbs hard-to-attack stains such as ones caused by coffee and wine. It hits 85% of the plaque on your teeth with ease, so this stuff is kind of a no-brainer.”
“The black coloring of charcoal can provide a bit of instant gratification for those who want to see the plaque and debris that’s being removed. The benefit here is more about the textured, expandable string than it is the charcoal. The floss expands as it touches saliva helping it remove debris more effectively,” Allure writes.
Think you’ve got the best of the best floss on your bathroom counter? Let us know what it is in the comments below!
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Sources:
- Verywell Health
- Dental Professionals
- The Strategist
- NewMouth
- Esquire
- NBC News
- Best Products
- Grove Collaborative
- My Dental Advocate
- Spy.com
- Allure
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This post may contain affiliate links.