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. Our Top Picks Best For Wide-Set Teeth: Best Floss Picks: Best for Braces: Best for Sensitive Gums: Best for Kids: Best for Preventing Cavities: 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 Pros Wide range of flavors Removes virtually all food particles Easy to use Cons Too thick for crowded teeth The texture take some getting used to Type: Floss | Flavor: Mint 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). 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. Pros Biodegradable Durable Removes all plaque, food, and debris Cons Mint flavor isn’t strong Type: Floss pick | Flavor: Mint 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. Although the packaging purports that this flosser has a minty flavor, our editor didn’t really taste anything after using these picks for weeks. Pros Vegan Easy to use Floss is thin enough to get in between tight teeth Cons Not the most eco-friendly option Type: Floss pick | Flavor: Mint 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. 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. Pros Easy to use Pre-cut for precision Thin enough to get in tight spaces Cons Not as thorough as other flosses Type: Pre-cut floss | Flavor: Mint 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. 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. Pros Durable Great for sensitive gums Naturally flavored Cons Not great for tight teeth Type: Floss | Flavor: Spearmint 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. 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. Pros Biodegradable Easy to use Small Cons The colors aren’t the same as the packaging Type: Floss pick | Flavor: Orange and strawberry 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. 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. Pros Fights cavity-causing bacteria Thick floss that doesn’t shred Free of parabens, Teflon, and gluten Cons Pricey Type: Floss | Flavor: Mint 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. The only thing we didn’t love about this pick was the price—it’s a bit expensive. 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: 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: 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. 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. What Healthcare Providers Want You to Know
Best For Wide-Set Teeth
Cocofloss Coconut-Oil Dental Floss
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Best Floss Picks
The Humble Co Floss Picks Grip Handle
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Best for Sensitive Gums
Tom’s of Maine Dental Floss
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Best for Preventing Cavities
Risewell Scrubby Floss
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See Also
How to Floss Properly: Step-by-Step Guide to Flossing TeethShould you floss before or after your brush? We asked dentistsTypes of Floss - Choosing the Right Floss for You | Oral-B