Dentists Are Begging You to Ditch a Super-Popular Product—Here's Why
Put a finger down if a dental hygienist has told you that you don’t floss enough. If you currently have four fingers up, know I'm right there with you.
Is it because flossing feels annoying? Pointless? Yet another thing to do on an already long list of nighttime routine items? Whether it's out of laziness, forgetfulness, difficulty or something else, 20 percent of people say they never floss.
However, the fact of it all is this: Skipping out on flossing can lead to cavities, irritated gums and bad breath (ugh).
Enter the mighty floss pick, which seems like a happy medium. Floss picks are really easy to use, somewhat inexpensive, and seem to get the job done, even if they're not string floss. Seems like a great alternative, right?
Wrong. While floss picks can be the easier and quicker option, they don’t get the job done as well as you might think. Here's why, according to dentists.
The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website.Why Floss Picks Don’t Quite Cut It
Here's why you should probably ditch your floss picks and pick up a container of good old-fashioned string floss ASAP:
They can’t get into the nooks and crannies
Since floss picks only contain a short piece of floss that’s pulled taut between two ends, they can’t get around as much. “Unlike when you’re using a regular string of dental floss, this piece is unable to move as easily around your teeth to get to the hard-to-reach places,” says Dr. Lauren Becker, DDS, a general and cosmetic dentist in New York.
They can increase bacteria growth
Additionally, floss picks don’t allow you to have a fresh, clean piece of floss for each tooth, which also doesn’t help. “Floss picks are single-use tools, while traditional floss allows users to switch sections each interdental space in order to decrease spreading bacteria risk,” explains Dr. Sean Kutlay, DDS, owner and principal practitioner of Santa Clarita’s top-rated cosmetic and general dentistry practice.
They can break
If you’re trying to cut costs or simply don’t want to use multiple floss picks, you may only grab one at a time. But what if it breaks? In that situation, you’ve got yet another (annoying) obstacle. As a result, Dr. Becker says, people may just not finish flossing.
They may harm your gums
You know that little pointy part on the other end of a floss pick? Your gums don’t typically love it. “Without careful usage, their pointed ends could potentially cause irritation or trauma to gum tissues,” Dr. Kutlay says, encouraging gentleness while flossing.
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Does Using Regular Floss *Really* Make a Big Difference?
Yes, it can. According to Dr. Kutlay, switching to string floss “can make an immediate impactful difference in how effectively plaque and debris [are] removed from between teeth.”
At the same time, this is a situation where something is better than nothing. “Floss picks are better than not flossing at all, but I always encourage my patients to use regular floss daily and even water flossers to get into the hard-to-reach places,” Dr. Becker says. (And, for what it's worth, according to a study in The Journal of Clinical Dentistry, the Waterpik Water Flosser is more effective than string floss in removing plaque from tooth surfaces.)
Dreading making the change? Remember this: Flossing leads to improved dental health, which leads to better overall health (and also leads to saving money at the dentist). That counts for something, right?
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Other Flossing Tips You May Not Know
New to string floss, or not sure if you’re doing it “right”? That’s okay! Other than flossing before brushing, as Dr. Becker noted in a previous Parade article, here are some tips from Kutlay:
Make sure the string of floss is 18 inches long
After putting the floss in between your teeth, curve it into a C shape around each tooth (aka, don’t just do an up-and-down motion)
Gently floss below the gumline
Related: Should You Floss or Brush First? Dentists Reveal the Truth About Your Dental Routine
At the end of the day, though, both of these dentists suggest talking to your dentist since we all have different dental needs. “There are a wide range of dental floss options,” Dr. Becker says, “but what works best for you will depend on your mouth and what your dentist recommends.”
Next up, check out this list of electric toothbrushes that help maintain your dental hygiene.
Sources
Dr. Lauren Becker, DDS, a general and cosmetic dentist
Dr. Sean Kutlay, DDS, a cosmetic dentist
Are You Flossing Or Just Lying About Flossing? The Dentist Knows. NPR.
Evaluation of the plaque removal efficacy of a water flosser compared to string floss in adults after a single use. Journal of Clinical Dentistry.
