Dental Floss, Floss picks, or Water Flosser - Which one is best?

Margaret Feldborg

There are so many different products to choose from that claim to clean between your teeth and it can be hard to know which is best! Let’s recap why we even need to be using such products. Our mouth is full of bacteria which build up as plaque and calculus along our gums and between our teeth. Brushing your teeth alone will not remove all of that plaque build up because it physically can’t reach into those spaces. Leaving the bacteria to fester will lead to gum disease and cavities, putting you at risk for more dental work than you may originally need in future. 

What are water flossers and floss picks? 

What is dental floss?

You probably are familiar with old school dental floss - basically thread that you wrap around your fingers to push in between your teeth; this is also known as 'string floss'. But do you know what floss picks and water flossers are?

What is a floss pick?

A floss pick is dental floss that is on a little plastic holder, something which most people think makes flossing less clumsy and more convenient. You use it in the same way you use regular floss - bring the floss down in between your teeth.

What is a water flosser?

A water flosser (or a waterpik) is basically a power washer for your mouth. It is a device that sprays streams of water from a thin nozzle which should be aimed at your gum line and in between your teeth, to wash away the build up. 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Dental Floss, Floss Picks, and Water Flossers

So what really is best and when should you use all of these different types of floss compared to dental floss? 

Dental Floss 

Traditional dental floss, or string floss is usually the best way to look after your dental health when it comes to flossing. If you like to floss, or are keen to prevent as many cavities and fillings as possible this is your best option. 

Pros

  • Thicker, more effective material
  • Allows you to use a new section of material between every tooth

Cons

  • Can feel like more effort 

TrollTunga Tråd Floss

Floss Picks 

Floss picks are a hybrid of traditional string floss with convenience. This type of flossing removes the majority of build-up, but is not as effective as using traditional dental floss. 

Pros

  • Easy and convenient to hold

Cons

  • Thin, ineffective material
  • Lots of plastic waste
  • Reusing the same small section of floss between every tooth

Water Flossers 

When comparing water flossing vs floss picks and dental floss, they can be effective but are not the best method to remove all of the build up on your teeth. 

Pros 

  • Good for removing large particles of food

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Does not adequately remove bacteria because it does not reach under your gums or where your teeth are touching each other

When should I use a Water Flosser vs Dental floss? 

In general, you want to be reaching for traditional floss as your go to product, a water flosser simply does not do a good enough job to replace it. However, there are some situations where a water flosser can be a great addition to your routine. If you have areas in your mouth where chunks of food easily build up - for example under a dental bridge, in the wires of orthodontic braces, etc - then a water flosser can help you blast out those food remnants. 

What type of flossing is best for the environment? 

It is important that we keep in mind how much waste our dental hygiene routines are producing. Floss picks are a plastic holder for each small strand of floss and lead to a large amount of plastic waste. Traditional dental flosses come in a plastic dispenser which also gets discarded after use.

Our floss at TrollTunga Tråd comes in a paper dispenser to avoid unnecessary plastic waste - you don’t need your floss container to last over 100 years! Inside the dispenser, both the spool and the hygiene baggy around the spool are made of a plant based “plastic” which biodegrades in 5 years. TrollTunga Tråd has done everything possible to provide the highest quality dental floss while reducing the plastic waste that ends up in our landfills. 

Our Expert Recommendations

If you truly want to use the best product that removes plaque - then dental floss is what you need. It is the most effective way to clean your gums and in between your teeth, and thus prevent cavities and gum disease. But not all dental flosses are created equal either! It is important that the floss has adequate thickness to be effective, but that it also gets thin under tension so you can still get it in between your teeth. Bonus points for fluoride varnish to strengthen your enamel and reverse cavities. And extra bonus for tasty flavors and fun, eco friendly packaging. TrollTunga Tråd provides ALL of those benefits.

If you are serious about incorporating oral care into your self care routine, then TrollTunga Tråd is the product you should be reaching for. Switch up the flavor you are using depending on what you feel like on any given night! That will give you even higher chances of success when it comes to your goal of flossing nightly. 

Order TrollTunga Tråd now to take care of your smile! 

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