We Spent 56 Hours Testing Floss—These Dentist-Approved Options Were the Winners (2024)

We Spent 56 Hours Testing Floss—These Dentist-Approved Options Were the Winners (1)

Consistent flossing is essential to maintaining good dental hygiene. Casey Lau, DDS, co-founder and chief dental officer of sustainable oral company ELIMS, explains that the true purpose of flossing is to remove the physical debris that collects between the teeth. This debris, he says, creates colonies of harmful bacteria that can cause cavities, inflammation, and/or gum infections. He adds that while some dentists will say any floss is better than not using floss at all, there are some qualities that make some floss better than others. The best floss will remove plaque and debris before it becomes tartar.

According to Lau, you’ll want to look for thicker floss so it doesn’t shred, is lightly waxed, and is textured so it can break up the debris in your teeth.

We spent 56 hours testing 28 different flosses at home to find out which keep teeth super clean. We rated them based on their effectiveness, gentleness, and ease of use. A dental professional from our Medical Expert Board also reviewed the contents of this article for medical accuracy, how to use floss, and the best way to evaluate flosses.

What Healthcare Providers Want You to Know

  • Texture: There is a difference between the smooth and rough kinds of floss. Lau says that the most comfortable (widely used) floss is made with Teflon-coated shred-resistant polymer, yet it may not be the most effective due to its satiny texture. If possible, textured, thicker floss with a wax coating will be better at removing plaque before it hardens and becomes tartar.
  • Ease of use: You need to consider your mouth's needs when looking at floss. For example, consider if you have braces, wide gaps, close or crowded teeth, etc. Daniel Reich, DMD, director of Periodontics at Touro College of Dental Medicine, recommends that people use floss best suited for their teeth. Should your teeth be closer together, it's better to use a thinner floss, whereas if you have larger spaces, dental tape may be the better option. Water flossers would be the best option for people with braces.
  • Chemical-free: Sometimes, the smooth, waxy coating that can be found on floss can contain chemicals. Lau cites a 2019 study in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology that raised concerns about the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in some types of dental floss since these substances have been linked to some cancers. However, the American Dental Association (ADA) questioned the methods and results of that study, pushing back on the idea that the particular PFAS in dental floss (polytetrafluoroethylene) could account for a different PFAS (perfluorohexanesulfonic acid) in the blood of the study subjects. It’s important to consider whether you prefer PFAS or not when picking out dental floss options, as there are many options with and without them.

Our Top Picks

In This Article

  • What Healthcare Providers Want You to Know

  • Our Picks

  • How We Tested the Dental Floss

  • Our Experts

  • FAQ

  • Why Trust Verywell Health

Key Specs

Type: Floss | Flavor: Mint

Why We Recommend It

There are a lot of things to love about the Cocofloss Delicious Mint Dental Floss. First, it comes in a whopping fifteen flavors. Second, we love the grippy texture of this floss. With an almost sponge-like texture, this floss did a great job of really attracting and grabbing onto all the food and particles that were trapped in between our teeth.

If you have wider-set teeth, this floss is ideal as it is pretty thick, allowing it to take up a larger space in between your teeth and grab onto all the food in there. Because it’s a bit thicker and has a grippy texture, it’s a lot easier to get tension in between your hands when you’re flossing—it won’t slip or slide around your fingers as you're moving it around your mouth and repositioning it. We also like that the back of the dispenser has a little diagram on it so you can get a sense of how much longer the remaining floss will last (30 days, 60 days, two weeks, etc).

Keep In Mind

This floss might be too thick for some folks who have really crowded or tight teeth. Also, the texture might take some getting used to, as it feels different than your typical floss.

  • We Spent 56 Hours Testing Floss—These Dentist-Approved Options Were the Winners (3)

  • We Spent 56 Hours Testing Floss—These Dentist-Approved Options Were the Winners (4)

Pros

  • Biodegradable

  • Durable

  • Removes all plaque, food, and debris

Cons

  • Mint flavor isn’t strong

Key Specs

Type: Floss pick | Flavor: Mint

Why We Recommend It

Plastic dental floss picks have historically been very wasteful to the environment, but new, biodegradable options allow for effective dental cleaning without the guilt. That’s why we loved the Smartlifeco Biodegradable Dental Floss Picks, which are made from compostable straw wheat material. Straw wheat is even more eco-friendly than corn-based floss picks (such as The Humble Co Plant-Based Floss Picks Grip Handle, which is our overall Best Floss choice). The floss and toothpick allowed us to get into every crevice between our teeth and were very effective at removing plaque and food from our mouths.

We loved that the floss is really durable and isn’t too thick or thin—perfect for getting in between tight teeth. It didn’t get caught in between teeth and also didn’t cause any irritation to our gums.

Keep In Mind

Although the packaging purports that this flosser has a minty flavor, our editor didn’t really taste anything after using these picks for weeks.

  • We Spent 56 Hours Testing Floss—These Dentist-Approved Options Were the Winners (6)

  • We Spent 56 Hours Testing Floss—These Dentist-Approved Options Were the Winners (7)

Pros

  • Vegan

  • Easy to use

  • Floss is thin enough to get in between tight teeth

Cons

  • Not the most eco-friendly option

Key Specs

Type: Floss pick | Flavor: Mint

Why We Recommend It

The Humble Co Plant-Based Floss Picks Grip Handle floss does a good job of removing plaque and food particles from between teeth and along the gumline. It’s extremely easy to use, is very intuitive, and you don’t have to read the instructions to figure it out. Because this floss is a pick and has a handle, it’s a lot easier to get a better grip when flossing your teeth. It’s great for folks with limited dexterity or children because using the pick doesn’t take as much strength and requires less movement of the wrists than your standard floss.

Another big reason we love this floss is that it’s lightweight and flexible enough to bend and fit in all of your teeth crevices. The thread is also thin enough to get between tight teeth, too. We didn’t experience any irritation or gum bleeding while testing these floss picks.

However, if you’re looking for an even more eco-friendly pick option, we recommend Smartlifeco Biodegradable Dental Floss Picks, which we have listed as our Best Eco-Friendly option. We also recommend the Listerine Ultraclean Access Flosser Starter Kit Bundle as a second alternative. It comes with a single flosser stick and refills. The long handle allows for easier reach on the back teeth and front teeth as well. We love that it allows you to angle the flosser with ease and get more plaque and debris removed. We noticed that we were able to remove twice as much debris with this floss kit than with any previous floss that we’ve used.

Keep In Mind

These are made with 53% plant-based materials, so while they are eco-friendly, they’re still slightly wastefuly as they must be thrown away after each use.

  • We Spent 56 Hours Testing Floss—These Dentist-Approved Options Were the Winners (9)

  • We Spent 56 Hours Testing Floss—These Dentist-Approved Options Were the Winners (10)

  • We Spent 56 Hours Testing Floss—These Dentist-Approved Options Were the Winners (11)

Pros

  • Easy to use

  • Pre-cut for precision

  • Thin enough to get in tight spaces

Cons

  • Not as thorough as other flosses

Key Specs

Type: Pre-cut floss | Flavor: Mint

Why We Recommend It

This floss is perfect for folks with braces, wide gaps, and permanent retainers. It has a rigid plastic tip that allows the user to quickly and easily thread the floss in between their braces or other dental device. It’s very easy to handle and maneuver because of the rigid tip.

The floss is thinner than some other flosses on the market because it needs to be thin and small enough to pass through braces and dental devices. Because it’s so thin, you shouldn’t have an issue gliding it through your teeth, either.

Keep In Mind

Something to note with this floss is that, because it’s so thin, it might not pick up as much food in between your teeth as a floss that has a thicker, more grippy texture. You might have to pass this floss through your teeth a couple of times to really get everything out.

  • We Spent 56 Hours Testing Floss—These Dentist-Approved Options Were the Winners (13)

  • We Spent 56 Hours Testing Floss—These Dentist-Approved Options Were the Winners (14)

Pros

  • Durable

  • Great for sensitive gums

  • Naturally flavored

Cons

  • Not great for tight teeth

Key Specs

Type: Floss | Flavor: Spearmint

Why We Recommend It

We really like this floss from Tom’s of Maine because it’s durable, doesn’t shred, and is great for those with sensitive gums. It removed plaque pretty well when we tested, and is made with naturally waxed nylon filaments for extra sturdiness. The spearmint flavor is a nice touch to provide that extra clean feeling in your mouth, and we like that it’s pretty subtle and not overpowering.

Folks with sensitive gums will like this floss because it’s not as thick as some other brands, so it can fit easily in between teeth and glide smoothly within the gumline.

Keep In Mind

Some folks would consider this floss too thick to thread through their teeth. If you have really, really tight teeth, you might want to consider another option.

  • We Spent 56 Hours Testing Floss—These Dentist-Approved Options Were the Winners (16)

  • We Spent 56 Hours Testing Floss—These Dentist-Approved Options Were the Winners (17)

  • We Spent 56 Hours Testing Floss—These Dentist-Approved Options Were the Winners (18)

  • We Spent 56 Hours Testing Floss—These Dentist-Approved Options Were the Winners (19)

Pros

  • Biodegradable

  • Easy to use

  • Small

Cons

  • The colors aren’t the same as the packaging

Key Specs

Type: Floss pick | Flavor: Orange and strawberry

Why We Recommend It

When it comes to getting into the habit of flossing, it’s a good idea to start early. The Grin Kids Biodegradable Dental Flossers are a great step to add to your kids’ dental routine day or night. We loved that these were easy to use for kids and that they are on the smaller side, so they fit comfortably in children’s hands.

The floss is sturdy and strong, and glides through kids teeth really easily. These are made with 100% biodegradable handles, are fluoride-free, and are free of BPA, PVC, and PFAS. We also like that they are pretty affordable.

Keep In Mind

One thing to note is that the colors on the package do not fully match up with the colors in the canister. Some picky kids (no pun intended) might not be happy about that.

  • We Spent 56 Hours Testing Floss—These Dentist-Approved Options Were the Winners (21)

  • We Spent 56 Hours Testing Floss—These Dentist-Approved Options Were the Winners (22)

  • We Spent 56 Hours Testing Floss—These Dentist-Approved Options Were the Winners (23)

  • We Spent 56 Hours Testing Floss—These Dentist-Approved Options Were the Winners (24)

  • We Spent 56 Hours Testing Floss—These Dentist-Approved Options Were the Winners (25)

Pros

  • Fights cavity-causing bacteria

  • Thick floss that doesn’t shred

  • Free of parabens, Teflon, and gluten

Cons

  • Pricey

Key Specs

Type: Floss | Flavor: Mint

Why We Recommend It

This floss from Risewell is made with vegan wax and hydroxyapatite, a natural calcium phosphate mineral. It’s also made with xylitol, which works to starve bacteria that can cause cavities. We loved the thickness of this floss—it didn’t shred at all, and was thick enough to get all the gunk out, but thin enough to slide through our teeth easily.

We love that this pick is paraben-free, Teflon-free, gluten-free, and just overall really safe to use in your mouth. We also like that the floss delivers remineralizing hydroxyapatite to the hard-to-reach spots in between your teeth after each flossing session.

Keep In Mind

The only thing we didn’t love about this pick was the price—it’s a bit expensive.

  • We Spent 56 Hours Testing Floss—These Dentist-Approved Options Were the Winners (27)

  • We Spent 56 Hours Testing Floss—These Dentist-Approved Options Were the Winners (28)

  • We Spent 56 Hours Testing Floss—These Dentist-Approved Options Were the Winners (29)

How We Tested the Dental Floss

Our editors tested out 28 different types of floss from an array of different brands. After 56 hours of total testing, we narrowed down our list based on the following criteria:

  • Effectiveness: We took note of how efficiently each floss removed plaque and food particles from between teeth and along the gumline. We also compared each floss to other flosses we’ve tried, and examined how each floss performed in tight spaces, around braces, and with a permanent retainer.
  • Ease of use: Our editors analyzed how easy the floss was to handle and maneuver, and if the thickness or texture of the floss impacted its ease of use. We also noted if there were any special features or design elements that made this floss more user-friendly, and how easily the floss glided through teeth.
  • Gentleness: We tested to see if the floss cleaned effectively without causing gum irritation or bleeding and took note of if there were specific materials or coating used in the floss that would contribute to its gentleness on gums. Our editors analyzed whether or not individuals with sensitive gums or gum conditions, such as gingivitis, would be able to use this floss comfortably and to describe the flavor of the floss, if any.

Our Experts

We interviewed dentists and periodontists for their insights on what to look for in a floss, as well as other general questions about dental floss. These experts included:

  • Casey Lau, DDS, co-founder and chief dental officer of sustainable oral company ELIMS
  • Daniel Reich, DMD, director of Periodontics at Touro College of Dental Medicine

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does dental floss expire?

    Not really, though flavored or wax floss may change in taste and texture when floss is kept around for long periods of time.

  • Should you floss before or after brushing your teeth?

    According to Reich, the latest research comes down in favor of flossing before brushing. We recommend a floss first, brush second routine for maximum clean-mouth potential.

  • What should you do if your gums regularly bleed after flossing?

    Bleeding gums can be caused by multiple things, some a sign of gum disease and some easily reversible. Since it’s hard for patients to know what the source of their bleeding is, the best course of action is to talk with your dentist about your experience, says Reich. Your dentist can then refer you to a gum specialist or periodontist if necessary.

Why Trust Verywell Health

Daley Quinn is a freelance journalist, specializing in beauty and health, who has contributed to numerous publications, such as Elle, Real Simple, Allure, The Cut, WWD, and more. She also writes for her blog, The Daley Dose.

We Spent 56 Hours Testing Floss—These Dentist-Approved Options Were the Winners (2024)
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