The Best Flossers
According to 3 Dentists (2024)
Full transparency:
We’re the makers of the Element reusable floss pick.
Only you know if it’s the best flosser for you.
That’s why our guide covers 73 of the best dental flossers in a whopping 24 categories.
3 dentists answer your questions on the best dental floss picks for specific needs.
(This is not a sponsored/affiliate article.)
Let’s get started!
Written by Artem Cheprasov. Last updated: Feb. 28, 2024. See our disclaimer.
DENTIST RECOMMENDED
A lot of people have specific needs, like gum sensitivity, which may require the use of special floss picks.
So we asked 3 practicing dentists in the U.S…
To give us their recommendations for the best dental flossers for specific needs.
Check out their answers below…
And then navigate directly to the type of floss pick they recommend by clicking on the relevant links in their response.
What are the best flossers for braces?
“Water flossers are the quickest and most efficient way for patients with braces to floss.
Traditional floss is very technique-sensitive for those with braces.
Superfloss is the easiest option (if not using water flossers) as it allows for easy placement of the floss behind the orthodontic wire.
Interdental brushes [brush picks] are also an option, although I would recommend using those in conjunction with either water flossers or Superfloss.
Essentially, interdental brushes are a handle with a small brush on the end that can be slid behind the wire.
I would not recommend traditional floss for people with braces.”
Second Opinion
“The best flossers for braces are floss threaders that can get around brackets and wires to keep your gums and teeth clean.
Traditional floss won’t work well because of the wires.
A waterpick is also a great option for people with braces because it helps push debris through the teeth with high pressure water.
I prefer to recommend a wax coated floss for patients with braces because it won’t shred as easily and is more gentle on the gums.
Your orthodontist can assist you in showing you how to use the floss correctly so your teeth remain clean with braces.
Many patients also find success using proxy brushes [brush picks] to help remove food and plaque that can get stuck in difficult to reach areas.”
What are the best flossers for permanent retainers?
“Permanent retainers can be cleaned using floss threaders, Superfloss, or a water pick. That’s because a traditional floss pick won’t be able to get through a permanent retainer.
Without proper cleaning, plaque and food debris can get caught, causing cavities or gum problems.
Superfloss is great because it is disposable, cheap, and after you get the hang of it, easy to use. It is a similar process to threading, so you are able to get under the bonded retainer.
If you are unable to use the Superfloss, then interdental floss threaders may be the best option for permanent retainers because they can get into those tight areas under the wire.”
What’s the best flosser for dental restorations like crowns, fillings, bridges, implants, and dentures?
“For my patients with a significant number of dental restorations, I strongly recommend the water flosser.
It is much less harsh on existing restorations than floss or floss picks.
In addition, there is no “pulling” motion (like there is with traditional floss or floss picks) that could cause a restoration to come out/detach.
The water flossers have been clinically proven to be as effective as regular floss when it comes to cleaning around crowns/fillings/implants.
It is also very user-friendly and easy to maneuver.
Mouth rinse can be used (instead of water) with water flossers. Many of these products have fluoride in them, which will also help to protect the teeth with restorations.”
What are the best floss picks for sensitive gums?
“Floss picks can be a good tool for patients with sensitive gums.
Sensitive gums usually arise from slight inflammation or gingivitis.
Gingivitis can be reversed with proper brushing and flossing techniques. From my personal experience regular string floss is the best for removing all debris.
However, floss picks can be used.
With proper technique floss picks can remove adequate debris or plaque between teeth.
The traditional floss picks with the F shape tend to be the most popular and are a good option for patients who struggle with gum sensitivity.”
Second Opinion
“Traditional floss string may be the best option because you can control the pressure used for sensitive gums. A wax string floss is good because it will slide in and out between the teeth easily.”
What’s the best flosser for gum disease (gingivitis or periodontitis)?
“For my patients with gingivitis or periodontitis, I recommend Oral-B Glide Gum Care floss picks [also see similar alternatives].
These patients typically have sensitive gums that are very easily irritated.
The floss within this pick is very silky/smooth so it is less irritating to the gingiva.
It is also shred-resistant, which I want in any floss I recommend for patients.
For those with bone loss, the smooth characteristic of the floss allows it to glide down into the deeper periodontal pockets.”
What are the best floss picks for plaque?
“Y-shaped flossers can provide adequate plaque removal as long as the patient is able to manipulate the flosser to reach all of the teeth and their contours.
For patients that struggle with dexterity the F-shaped flosser can be easier to use.
The type of floss inside the floss pick can also help remove plaque.
Picks with waxed floss have floss that’s often thicker and has less tendency to shred. This can be helpful with plaque removal.”
Second Opinion
“Brushing and flossing go hand-in-hand, so it is necessary to do both for optimal oral health.
Floss picks come in different flavors, shapes, and sizes depending on your needs so there is no one-size-fits-all floss pick.
The best recommendation is to try a few brands and styles.
The good thing about your floss pick choices is that they are cheap and disposable, so you can always try a new brand if you are unhappy.”
What are the best floss picks for tight teeth?
“For patients who have tight teeth or contacts it becomes helpful to look at the floss within the flosser.
While the flosser type itself may not make a difference the quality of the floss can.
Try to find a dental pick with low shred and waxed floss.
The waxed floss will make it easier to fit in tighter spaces. The wax also helps the floss slide easier between the teeth.”
Second Opinion
“A wax coated floss pick or traditional floss string is good for people with tight teeth so it doesn’t get caught and slides out between the teeth smoothly.
For those who can’t floss for dexterity or pain, a water flosser is always a great adjunct [addition].”
What are the best floss picks for back teeth?
“The back teeth can be a difficult area to clean.
There are some companies, such as Plackers, that have a curved design pick.
This design can make it easier for patients to clean their back teeth due to the angulation of the holder.
F shaped flossers can be helpful for patients that cannot manipulate the Y shaped flosser.
Some floss picks have an angulated pick that can also help remove debris from the back teeth.”
What are the best floss picks for toddlers and older kids?
“Dual grip floss picks can be a good option for toddlers and kids.
Oftentimes they are smaller than traditional floss picks and have a handle that allows them to manipulate the pick easier.
These floss picks can often come in fun shapes and flavors.
For older children who have braces there are floss picks, such as Platypus flossers.
Platypus flossers not only have a floss end that fits between brackets but a brush end as well.”
What’s the best flosser for people with arthritis?
“I recommend water flossers for patients with arthritis.
There is a lot less technique/twisting of the fingers/wrists involved.
It is simply placed near the tooth and the water does all the work.
For those wanting to use traditional floss picks, I recommend those with longer handles and a non-slip grip.
Many brands offer this type of floss pick. The longer handle is easier to maneuver, and the non-slip grip will help those with arthritis.”
Do water flossers remove plaque as effectively as floss picks with dental floss?
“Most studies show that there is minimal difference between water flossers/floss picks with dental floss.
The main difference is simply the way they are used.
Water flossers can be more effective around existing restorations or for patients with limited mobility/arthritis.
I sometimes even recommend that both be used – floss with regular floss/floss pick first, then use the water flosser afterwards. If both are used as they are recommended, they are equal in effectiveness.”
THE BEST FLOSS PICKS FOR BRACES
There are numerous flossers out on the market designed for people with braces that we cover below.
As our Dentist Panel makes clear…
There isn’t a single best flosser for braces.
It may depend on your specific needs, desires, and your dentist’s observations.
PLATYPUS FLOSSERS
Video credit: @hygieneedge
Wow…
There are few products that get this many glowing reviews so we obviously had to put the Platypus flosser here.
As the video above shows, it has a unique shape.
This shape allows you to “slip” the floss pick under your braces to floss between the teeth.
Here’s what reviewers had to say…
Dr. Chun believes that floss picks like the Platypus could be a good choice for kids with braces.
WHERE TO BUY
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
FLOSS THREADERS FOR BRACES
Video credit: @hygieneedge
Important!
Don’t get floss threaders (aka threaders) confused with threader floss.
Threaders are relatively stiff pieces of material that help you move your floss of choice in between your teeth.
As in:
Threaders = bring your own floss.
The advantage to threaders is that you can choose to use the exact type of floss that works best for you.
Dr. Anand believes that threaders are a good option for braces.
The DenTek threaders come well reviewed:
WHERE TO BUY
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
SUPERFLOSS (THREADER FLOSS) FOR BRACES
Video credit: @PureOrtho
Important!
Don’t mix up floss threaders (aka threaders) with threader floss.
They’re almost the same but not quite.
For threader floss, the floss is already attached to the threader.
Oral-B’s Superfloss is one of the better known types of threader floss.
Essentially, Superfloss already has a threader on one end…
And a string of floss automatically attached to it…
Meaning:
You don’t need to tie a separate piece of dental floss to it as you would have to with a threader.
Convenient, right?
It also gets rave reviews:
And Dr. Casterline thinks that Superfloss is a good pick for braces as well.
WHERE TO BUY
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
BRUSH PICKS (INTERDENTAL PROXY BRUSHES) FOR BRACES
Video credit: @evolutionorthodontic
The DenTek Slim Brush Advanced Clean Interdental Cleaners are well-rated and advertised to clean braces in a similar manner to the video above.
These are by no means the only brush picks that may work for your braces. These brush picks come in a huge selection of sizes and styles (see a few alternatives below).
Perhaps most importantly, a lot of reviewers find them helpful in cleaning up around their braces.
Both, Dr. Casterline and Dr. Anand, agree that brush picks can be a good choice for people with braces.
WHERE TO BUY
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
THE BEST FLOSS PICKS FOR PERMANENT RETAINERS
The flossers designed for permanent retainers are basically the same as the ones designed for braces.
Threaders, threader floss (Superfloss), and water flossers may be among the best flossers for permanent retainers.
INTERDENTAL FLOSS THREADERS FOR RETAINERS
Video credit: @Jasonadinatadentistrytoronto
The major types of flossers for permanent retainers are similar to the ones for braces.
One of these types is known as floss threaders, or simply “threaders”.
In short…
Threaders are pretty cool because they allow you to choose the type of floss your dentist recommends for your specific retainer.
If you’re considering threaders for your permanent retainer, then…
The DenTek threaders come well reviewed:
WHERE TO BUY
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
SUPERFLOSS (THREADER FLOSS) FOR RETAINERS
Video credit: @evolutionorthodontic
Don’t confuse floss threaders (aka threaders) with threader floss.
For threader floss, the floss already comes pre-attached to a threader.
Oral-B’s Superfloss is one of the best known types of threader floss.
The Superfloss has a combination of a threader, thick floss, and thinner floss all pre-attached.
Superfloss generally gets excellent reviews from people with permanent retainers:
WHERE TO BUY
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
THE BEST FLOSS PICKS FOR DENTAL RESTORATIONS
Dental restorations include crowns, fillings, dentures, bridges, and implants.
Dr. Christopher Casterline recommends his patients use a water flosser for their dental restorations.
Below, we list a few additional popular options that people have used.
As always, talk to your dentist to determine which of these options may work best for your specific restoration.
FLOSS THREADERS FOR RESTORATIONS
Video credit: @DentalSolutionsAlgodones
A lot of people use floss threaders to clean around their dental work.
Floss threaders are often shortened to just “threaders”.
As the video shows above, threaders help you maneuver a piece of floss into the space where you need to clean.
Basically,
Threaders work well because you get to use the floss that your dentist recommends.
A lot of people with dental work use these types of threaders successfully:
WHERE TO BUY
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
THREADER FLOSS FOR RESTORATIONS
Video credit: @jaygray4700
A quick note here:
Don’t mistake floss threaders (aka threaders) with threader floss.
For threader floss, the floss comes pre-attached to a threader.
Oral-B’s Superfloss is one of the most famous brands of threader floss.
The Superfloss is a 3-in-1 kinds of tool, combining a threader, thick floss, and thinner floss.
Very convenient!
It also gets awesome reviews from people with restorative dental work:
WHERE TO BUY
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
SOFT PICKS FOR RESTORATIONS
Video credit: SidsTips
GUM soft picks seem to be the most popular brand of soft pick out on the market.
And to be honest…
The reviews kind of speak for themselves.
These soft picks appear to do a great job for many reviewers with different types of dental work, like bridges.
WHERE TO BUY
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
THE BEST FLOSSERS FOR SENSITIVE GUMS
So this one’s an interesting category.
Why?
Well…
Sensitive gums could be the result of an underlying medical concern…
Or…
The wrong type of floss…
Or…
Some people just have sensitive gums and “that’s it”.
So here are the floss picks specifically advertised as being great for sensitive gums.
F-SHAPED PICKS FOR SENSITIVE GUMS
Video credit: @ThatInternetGuyChannel
Thankfully, there is a floss pick marketed for people with sensitive gums.
That would be DenTek’s Comfort Clean Sensitive Gums line of picks.
Lots of people claim that these specific dental flossers are gentle on their gums.
The reason appears to be because of the special floss these picks use. This floss is a bit “stretchy” and gives a softer feel as a result.
Dr. Chun says that such F-shaped picks may be a good option for people with sensitive gums.
WHERE TO BUY
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
The following two alternatives don’t advertise anything about sensitive gums but do claim to use gentle types of floss:
SOFT PICKS ADVANCED FOR SENSITIVE GUMS
Video credit: @SidsTips
These GUM dental picks advertise having soft rubber bristles for sensitive gums.
And if you read the reviews…
You’ll find that people seem to confirm this to be the case:
WHERE TO BUY
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
THE BEST FLOSS PICKS FOR GUM DISEASE
Gum disease is more formally called periodontal disease where…
The early stage of gum disease is known as gingivitis and…
The more serious stage of gum disease is known as periodontitis.
Here are the floss picks we found that may help some people with gum disease.
GUM CARE PICKS
Video credit: @ElectricTeeth
The video above shows the Oral-B Glide Pro-Health floss picks…
They are advertised as protecting against gingivitis.
Dr. Christopher Casterline recommends the Oral-B Glide Gum Care floss picks for people with gingivitis.
Both picks are nearly identical.
According to Oral-B, these floss picks may help with gingivitis (the milder form of gum disease).
This might be because the picks’ unique design…
And tension control feature…
Allow you to clean below the gumline.
And at least according to a good number of reviews, these flossers may truly help with gingivitis if used as directed by a dentist:
WHERE TO BUY
Oral-B Glide Gum Care on Amazon
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
PERIODONTAL FLOSS HYBRID
Yes, the ProxySoft Periodontal Floss isn’t a true floss pick.
But it’s not exactly regular floss either.
It’s kind of a hybrid floss device that includes a threader and floss all in one.
And it’s advertised to help with periodontal disease.
So what did reviewers have to say about this product?
WHERE TO BUY
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
There is no exact alternative that also advertises itself as being good for periodontal disease…
THE BEST FLOSSERS FOR PLAQUE
There aren’t too many floss picks that directly claim to remove more plaque than usual. We go over the most prominent one below.
Dr. Chun recommends her patients try F-shaped picks, Y-shaped flossers, and floss picks with wax-coated floss for plaque removal.
It may be a case where the best floss sticks for plaque are the ones you will be most likely to use consistently and effectively…
As opposed to any one special design.
X-SHAPED FLOSS
Video credit: @ThatInternetGuyChannel
DenTek advertises its Cross Flosser as removing 80% more plaque than the leading rolled floss…
Well…
At least in lab testing.
Some of the reviewers seem to really like this unique style of flosser.
WHERE TO BUY
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
We couldn’t find any exact matches.
However…
If you want a floss pick for plaque control that uses gentler brush-like material, then check out DenTek’s Easy Brush Plaque Control Interdental Cleaners.
Just make sure to choose the correct size for your teeth.
THE BEST FLOSSERS FOR TIGHT TEETH
A lot of people have tightly-spaced teeth.
And any floss material will stretch with use, especially when gliding between closely-spaced teeth.
That means you need a reusable floss pick that holds on to floss tightly or a disposable floss pick with super-strong floss.
We cover both in this section.
One more thing…
If you haven’t seen Dr. Chun’s opinion…
She recommends dental picks with waxed floss for people with tight teeth as well.
THE REUSABLE KIND
You might think we’re mentioning our very own Element reusable floss pick just because we want to brag.
No.
Well yes but for good reason.
The entire reason the Element reusable floss pick exists is because we were tired of buying cheap reusable flossers…
Cheap flossers that couldn’t hold on to the floss tightly enough to let us clean our entire mouth without re-stringing the flosser again.
Compare that with the Element.
The Element is perfect for tightly-spaced teeth because it holds on to floss tightly from the start using a patent-pending locking mechanism.
Furthermore:
The Element lets you floss uninterrupted. If any weak floss material starts to sag as you’re flossing, you can instantly re-tension everything hassle-free.
Oh, you can also reach more plaque with the element than with other floss picks.
That’s because the Element allows you to “floss like a dentist” (with C-shaped flossing).
There’s a ton more.
WHERE TO BUY
You can learn everything you need to know about the Element’s amazing features…
And get a 20% coupon…
By heading on over to the Element product page right now.
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
See our Complete Guide to the Best Dental Floss Holders for a ton of alternatives.
THE DISPOSABLE KIND
Video credit: @ThatInternetGuyChannel
Single-use flossers take one of two approaches to addressing tightly-spaced teeth.
On the one hand, there are disposable flossers that try to use the “rigid” approach with really strong floss that forces its way in between closely-spaced teeth without shredding.
The DenTek Triple Clean flossers are an example of one of the strongest dental floss picks out there…
And they get good reviews to that effect:
On the other hand, the “rigid” approach won’t work for everyone. See the BE AWARE section below for more information on that.
WHERE TO BUY
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
BE AWARE
While the “rigid floss” approach to tight teeth works great for some people…
Other individuals with closely-spaced teeth will disagree:
So consider that there are single-use floss picks that try to take the “soft” approach with really thin and smooth floss meant to “slip in” between the teeth instead of forcing its way in.
Here are some examples of this “soft” approach:
Oh, and don’t forget what Dr. Chun said:
She recommends picks with wax-coated floss for people with tight teeth as well.
THE BEST FLOSSERS FOR BACK TEETH
The back teeth (molars) can be difficult to reach and clean.
Dr. Chun mentions that numerous types of flossers can help with cleaning those areas:
1. Curved picks (we cover this below)
2. Angulated picks (we cover this below)
ANGULATED PICKS FOR BACK TEETH
Given the solid reviews, these angulated picks may be among the best dental picks for cleaning your back teeth…
Especially by people concerned with ensuring they do a good job cleaning those molars.
Based on the reviews, the floss on these picks appears pretty strong as well.
WHERE TO BUY
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
We couldn’t find a very good match.
CURVED PICKS FOR BACK TEETH
Video credit: @ThatInternetGuyChannel
These Y-style floss picks are advertised as being designed exactly for cleaning the back teeth.
Overall, users report being very happy with them for that purpose.
Here’s what one reviewer had to say:
WHERE TO BUY
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
THE BEST FLOSSERS FOR KIDS
It goes without saying…
Toddlers and kids need adult supervision when flossing.
Dr. Lindsey Chun recommends considering dual grip floss picks for toddlers and kids. We cover them below.
She also mentions that kids with braces may benefit from the Platypus flosser.
DUAL GRIP FLOSS PICKS FOR KIDS
Dr. Lindsey Chun recommends dual grip floss picks for toddlers and kids.
They get some amazing reviews online as well.
Don’t forget:
They come in a wide range of shapes, colors, and even flavors!
We link to the most popular one we found below.
WHERE TO BUY
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
GUMCHUCKS
Video credit: @lunddental
We couldn’t pass up highlighting GumChuks.
First, that video above is a gem.
Second, this is a really unique reusable flosser.
Finally, company-sponsored research has found that this style of flossers might be a good alternative to finger-flossing…
For kids!
So we certainly think it’s worth taking a look at when it comes to supervised flossing for children.
Reviewers tend to agree that GumChuks could be a good flosser for kids.
WHERE TO BUY
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
None that we could find.
THE BEST FLOSS PICKS FOR PEOPLE WITH ARTHRITIS
It goes without saying that inflammation of the joints (arthritis) can be painful.
It can be painful to maneuver floss or floss picks.
It can also be difficult to hold on to the floss or flossers.
Dr. Casterline recommends that people with arthritis consider two main types of flossers:
1. Floss wands with long, non-slip, handles like the one we go over below.
2. Water Flossers.
FLOSS WAND
Video credit: @ThatInternetGuyChannel
The Listerine Ultraclean Access is a floss wand that uses snap-on flosser heads.
As you can tell below, a lot of people with arthritis (and fibromyalgia) rave about this flosser.
WHERE TO BUY
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
There is no exact alternative match that’s as popular as Listerine’s…
However…
We found that the following two floss holders also get good reviews from people with arthritis despite having a different style to them:
CHEWABLE FLOSSERS
Video credit: @smyllersgfloss
This is quite a unique type of flosser.
It honestly gets mixed reviews…
But can be helpful for someone who’d like to floss without using their hands.
WHERE TO BUY
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
We couldn’t find any closely-matching alternatives.
THE BEST REUSABLE FLOSS PICKS
Single-use flossers are very costly over the long run. And they create a lot of waste.
So if you want to save a ton of money and save the planet…
Well-made reusable flossers are the way to go.
We already have a Complete Guide to the Best Dental Floss Holders (aka reusable floss picks).
So if you want to explore the full selection of reusable flossers out there, head on over to that guide right now.
THE ELEMENT
Obviously, we believe that…
The best reusable floss pick is the Element reusable flosser.
Not because we invented this amazing dental pick…
But because it’s precision-engineered to solve the most common complaints reusable flossers face.
First:
The Element holds your favorite floss tightly to begin with. This is great for people with tightly-spaced teeth.
Second:
We realize that many types of floss are a bit on the “weaker” side. So they will stretch with use no matter what you do.
It’s just a property of the floss itself, nothing to do with any specific floss holder.
We accounted for this…
With the Element:
You can quickly re-tension any loose floss so you can finish cleaning your mouth without re-stringing the flosser.
The Element has a ton of other amazing features…
For example:
It also lets you “floss like a dentist”, with dentist-recommended C-shaped flossing.
And it’s really easy to use!
Ok.
We’ll stop bragging at this point.
WHERE TO BUY
You can learn everything you need to know about the Element and get a 20% coupon…
Just head on over to the Element product page right now.
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
There are a lot of reusable floss picks (floss holders) out there.
Check out our Complete Guide to the Best Dental Floss Holders for more.
THE BEST SINGLE-USE FLOSS PICKS
There’s literally hundreds of companies making disposable floss picks.
So we could’ve been lazy here and just popped in the top-selling flossers on Amazon and called it a day.
We didn’t do that.
First:
We’ve all heard stories about fake reviews so…there’s that problem we wanted to avoid.
Second:
We didn’t want to be lazy, that’s just not our style.
So we took a full day to research the best disposable flossers out there.
Mainly:
We wanted to showcase the wide variety of styles for your consideration. All such styles have their pros and cons for you to think about.
X-SHAPED FLOSS
Video credit: @ThatInternetGuyChannel
The DenTek Cross Flosser has X-shaped floss unlike anything else we’ve seen.
According to the product listing page this cool-looking design removes 80% more plaque in lab testing.
Without a doubt…
The DenTek Cross Flosser gets rave reviews all over the internet. Mainly, people are in love with how well these floss picks remove plaque.
WHERE TO BUY
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
We couldn’t find any. If you want X-shaped floss, the DenTek Cross Flosser might be the best dental floss pick out there for that.
TWIN-STRING FLOSSERS
Video credit: @JohnDaniels
The reason we chose the Plackers Twin-Line flossers is because of their special design.
There are two lines of floss as opposed to just the typical one you find in disposable flossers.
In theory, this means you’ll be able to dislodge a lot more of the food stuck between your teeth.
So that’s a huge plus right there, no doubt about it!
WHERE TO BUY
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
Y-SHAPED FLOSS PICKS
Video credit: @ThatInternetGuyChannel
This is a hybrid flosser.
The floss handle is reusable while the snap-on heads are single-use.
We include it for one major reason.
Many people have a lot of trouble reaching their back molars when flossing their mouth.
The Ultraclean Access floss wand features a Y-shaped head design.
This is in contrast to most disposable floss picks, which use an F-shaped head design.
The Y-shaped head design helps clean your teeth all the way at the back of the mouth. That’s not to say F-shaped floss picks can’t do that. It’s just that many people feel that Y-shaped floss picks are easier to use for that purpose.
Finally, Dr. Chun says that Y-shaped flossers are a good option to consider when it comes to removing plaque. She also mentioned that they can be good for cleaning the back teeth.
WHERE TO BUY
Y-SHAPED ALTERNATIVES
F-SHAPED FLOSSERS
Video credit: @ThatInternetGuyChannel
At first glance…
These Oral-B Glide floss picks look like hundreds of other disposable floss pick brands.
For example:
They just have the one line of floss…nothing fancy like X-shaped floss.
And they have an F-shaped design like most flossers.
But…
According to reviews:
The Glide flossers have one of the smoothest types of floss on the market and a lot of people seem to really like it…
These flossers may work well if you have tight teeth. See this guide’s section on the best dental flossers for tight teeth for even more options.
Generally speaking, Dr. Chun thinks that F-shaped flossers can be a good option for people with sensitive gums. She also mentioned that they can be effective at removing plaque.
WHERE TO BUY
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
WAX COATED FLOSS PICKS
Wax coated floss picks are often used for two major purposes.
As Dr. Lindsey Chun says, they can enhance the removal of plaque.
And as Dr. Erica Anand mentions, the wax coating can be great for people with tight teeth.
WITH ALL NATURAL WAX
Waxed coated picks may help in the removal of plaque…
As waxed floss tends to be thicker and more shred-resistant than the floss on many standard flossers. See what Dr. Lindsey Chun had to say about this.
Wax coated floss picks can also be great for people with closely-spaced teeth…
Since the wax helps the floss glide in between tight areas. See what Dr. Erica Anand had to say about this.
Either way, many reviewers tend to agree:
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NON-TOXIC FLOSS PICKS
There is scientific evidence that some types of floss picks…
Are made from (or with) chemicals that may be toxic to your body.
This includes a group of chemicals called PFAS.
One type of PFAS is called PTFE.
PTFE is used in Teflon (as in: non-stick cookware).
“This is the first study to show that using dental floss containing PFAS is associated with a higher body burden of these toxic chemicals,” opined lead author Katie Boronow of the non-profit Silent Spring Institute in Massachusetts.”
Other floss picks are made with toxins like BPA, a chemical used in the manufacture of some plastics.
We’d rather be safe than sorry.
So let’s go over the best dental flossers without PTFE or BPA.
PFAS-FREE FLOSS PICKS
Video credit: @josephrnemeth
Luckily…
There are a handful of companies that clearly state their floss picks are free from PFAS.
One of them is Smart Life Co…
This company’s PFAS-free floss picks get solid reviews…
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BPA-FREE FLOSSERS
We give top spot to Happy Eco on this one.
They are very transparent about their BPA-free certification. So a big thanks to them for doing that!
Overall their reviews are top-notch. One common user observation is that these picks have some excellent and strong dental floss.
This is a big plus because many disposable floss picks have some pretty weak floss.
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SIMILAR BPA-FREE ALTERNATIVES
THE BEST WATER FLOSSERS
Water flossers (water picks) are pretty amazing.
They are a quick and easy way to dislodge a lot of decaying bits of food in between your teeth.
There are loads of water flossers out there, like the Waterpik brand.
To be very fair:
People can be quite passionate about the water flosser they have and it’s really hard to choose just one as being the “very best”.
We chose the top one below not because it is literally the best water flosser in every possible way…
But because it’s objectively a best seller and rated as well as competitive brands.
Don’t worry…we listed a few popular alternatives as well.
WATERPIK CORDLESS ADVANCED
Video credit: @ElectricTeeth
You know…Electric Teeth…
The guys behind the video above…
Are just masters in oral hygiene reviews so subscribe to their channel when you get the chance using the link above.
It’s hard to beat what they have to say about this product so we strongly recommend you watch their video.
In summary:
Reviewers note that the Waterpik does an excellent job of dislodging even tiny specks of food stuck between the teeth. That appears to be the most notable pro among many.
Water flossers also come highly recommended for many uses:
Dr. Casterline believes they are good choices for people with braces, restorations, and arthritis.
Dr. Anand agrees that water picks are good for braces, as well as for people with retainers and tightly-spaced teeth.
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THE BEST ELECTRIC FLOSSERS
Electric flossers are also known as sonic flossers or power flossers.
These can be great alternatives to regular floss or single-use floss picks…
So long as you are careful when you use them.
Research shows you can hurt your gums if you don’t use them as directed.
So just be careful, that’s all!
SLATE
Video credit: @LanceUlanoff
Slate is an electric flosser designed by a dentist
The team behind Slate states that their removable floss heads can be reused multiple times.
On the one hand…
That means you can save a ton of money on replacing the floss heads.
On the other hand…
No word on whether or not it’s hygienic to reuse a floss pick’s head like that.
Check out the video above for a lot more info.
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THE BEST BRUSH PICKS
Interdental brush picks (“proxy brushes”) are exactly what they sound like…
They are like a cross between toothpicks and a toothbrush.
Just don’t get these interdental brushes confused with soft picks.
We go over the best soft picks in this guide as well.
Note that Dr. Anand and Dr. Casterline agree that brush picks can be a good choice for braces.
ADVANCED CLEAN
Video credit: @ElectricTeeth
We decided to highlight the DenTek Advanced Care, Slim Brush Interdental Cleaners…one of the best dental brush picks out there.
Nevertheless…
We do believe that the similar alternatives below are likely just as good.
A lot of reviewers find these brush picks helpful in cases of dental work…
Like crowns, bridges, and braces.
Basically, this brush pick has a ton of different use cases…
And great reviews, so that’s why we chose it for our top spot.
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THE BEST SOFT PICKS
Soft picks are closely related to brush picks.
Except the pick isn’t a brush…
Rather:
The pick is often made of a soft material, like rubber.
But they work in similar ways with respect to removing plaque and debris.
GUM SOFT PICKS
Video credit: SidsTips
GUM soft picks seem to be the most popular brand of soft pick out on the market.
And to be honest…
The reviews kind of speak for themselves.
These soft picks appear to do a great job for many reviewers with different types of dental work, like bridges.
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THE BEST BRISTLE PICKS
Bristle picks are like a toothpick with relatively hard but flexible bristles on the end.
Don’t get bristle picks confused with soft picks, which are like a toothpick with soft bristles at the end…
And don’t get bristle picks confused with brush picks…which are like a toothpick with a toothbrush at the end.
So what’s the point of bristle picks?
Well, a big claim to fame is that they apparently act like tough scrubbers against plaque.
DENTEK DEEP CLEAN
So the DenTek Deep Clean Bristle Picks advertise that they are good for removing plaque in hard to reach places.
This includes in between tightly-spaced teeth, braces, and bridges.
A lot of reviewers appear to agree with this:
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SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
*Note that the link above shows a product confusingly called “BrushPicks”, but they are not soft brush picks…they are actually harder bristle picks.
THE BEST ECO-FRIENDLY FLOSS PICKS
Here’s the deal…
We want to ensure you use your money wisely.
Research shows that disposable picks marketed as “eco-friendly” cost an average of 43% more than traditional single-use alternatives. And they may be seriously greenwashed.
It turns out that the most eco-friendly floss picks are almost certainly the reusable kind.
So be sure to check out our Complete Guide to the Best Dental Floss Holders for a huge selection of eco-friendly reusable picks.
Nevertheless, we present some possibly eco-friendly disposable picks below for your consideration.
THE REUSABLE KIND
If you’re looking for single-use floss picks marketed as “eco-friendly”…
Then scroll just a tad further below for the disposable picks.
Here, we’re going to highlight how a reusable flosser…like our very own Element reusable floss pick…
Is much better for the planet than single-use alternatives.
When you use the Element floss holder, you:
- Stop up to 1,095 single-use floss picks from entering our environment every year.
- Use 45% less floss than flossing with your fingers.
- Minimize the endless extraction of resources, and the endless creation of trash, necessary to produce any kind of disposable flosser (even the eco-friendly kind).
WHERE TO BUY
You can learn everything you need to know about the Element’s eco-friendly credentials and amazing features…
And get a 20% coupon…
By heading on over to the Element product page right now.
SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES
See our Complete Guide to the Best Dental Floss Holders for a ton of alternatives.
THE DISPOSABLE KIND
Video credit: @BOONBOO
There’s a very specific reason we chose to highlight Boonboo in the eco-friendly disposable floss picks in this category.
They are the only bamboo flossers that we could find at least.
Why is this important?
The similar alternatives listed below also claim to be “eco-friendly”…
But we haven’t seen any evidence of exactly how the materials they use are truly eco-friendly.
We could be very wrong…
Yet our scientist-reviewed research about such materials raises legitimate questions which have so far gone unanswered.
Either way, these bamboo floss picks have a lot of fans likely because they are legit “green”…
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