Best Floss For Removing Plaque
There are two kinds of people: flossers and those who should be flossing. That’s because using floss is an important part of keeping your teeth and gums healthy, along with brushing with fluoride toothpaste. “A toothbrush removes plaque, but it mainly targets the front and back of teeth,” says Dr. Amr Moursi, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry past president and a professor at the NYU College of Dentistry. “Flossing removes plaque in between teeth and along the gum line that the toothbrush may not be able to reach.” Plaque is a collection of stuff you don’t want sticking to your teeth including bacteria, food and other materials, according to Moursi. Plaque can potentially lead to issues like gingivitis (aka, early gum disease) and even bad breath. Flossing regularly and properly helps avoid these issues, according to Dr. Edmond Hewlett, professor at the UCLA School of Dentistry. To get or keep you flossing, we talked to dentists about how to shop for floss — which comes in different flavors and varieties — and we got tips for using it correctly. We also rounded up floss options with the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance based on the experts’ guidance.
How we picked the best dental floss For Removing Plaque
When shopping for a floss, our experts recommend considering the following:
- Type of floss: There are many different floss options available, including water flossers, traditional string dental floss, floss picks and more. The best floss depends on your teeth, your needs and what your dental care experts suggest. Our list includes dental floss that comes unwaxed and waxed as well as floss picks.
- ADA acceptance: Experts recommend choosing floss with the ADA Seal of Acceptance. “A company earns the ADA Seal for floss or other interdental cleaners by producing scientific evidence demonstrating the safety and efficacy of its product in reducing plaque and gingivitis,” according to the ADA. Our list has approved brands and flosses.
- Flavor: Traditionally, floss has either come “unflavored” or minty. In recent years more floss flavor options have become available. This list includes traditional options and alternatives, including strawberry, orange and more.