Flossing is an important part of a good dental hygiene routine. However, only about 30 to 40% of Americans floss daily. There are now many different ways to floss, and it can be difficult to know which one is best. Let’s compare the advantages of floss picks vs dental floss.
Advantages of Floss Picks vs Dental Floss
When it comes to flossing, you can choose from floss picks, water flossers, flossing brushes, or regular dental floss. Each one has advantages and disadvantages. Regular dental floss is generally considered the best way to floss your teeth, since it allows you to maneuver between teeth and use proper flossing technique. However, if regular dental floss is uncomfortable for you to use, it isn’t beneficial. In this case, floss picks might be better.
Easy to Use
One of the most significant advantages of floss picks is the ability to easily hold and use them. Many people may struggle to hold traditional dental floss, especially those who experience impaired motor skills. You can hold the handle of the floss pick in a way that’s most comfortable for you, and move the floss between each tooth. With a longer handle, a floss pick might make it easier to reach your back teeth.
Use in Different Ways
Most floss picks have floss on one side, and a sharpened pick or soft brush on the other side. This gives you different tools that might be beneficial for the unique shape and arrangement of your teeth. If you have wider spaces between some of your teeth, the pick or brush side might be more beneficial for you. Different floss picks might be curved or straight, allowing you to reach difficult spots between your teeth. With different designs, you can find the floss pick that is most comfortable for you.
Fight Gingivitis
Floss picks, just like dental floss, can help fight gum disease and gingivitis. Flossing breaks up bacteria that makes its way between teeth, and prevents these bacteria from forming cavity-causing colonies. Many different kinds of floss, including many different floss picks, can help fight gum disease. However, if you’re not sure which ones are ideal, you can start with the list of ADA-approved flossers.
Disadvantages of Floss Picks vs Dental Floss
There are also some disadvantages of floss picks compared to dental floss. These attributes may or may not be important to you. Regardless, you should use the type of floss that works best for you.
Less Floss
Since each floss pick only has a small amount of floss, you’ll get less actual floss compared to a spool of dental floss. This means you may need to use more floss picks to adequately floss your teeth. You may also end up spending more on floss picks than dental floss. However, all types of floss are fairly affordable and the difference is likely to be small.
More Plastic Waste
Floss picks generally use more plastic and produce more waste than regular dental floss. If you don’t like using single-use plastics, floss picks might not be a good choice for you. Or, you might look for floss picks made from sustainable materials, such as post-consumer recycled plastics, wood or bamboo or even compostable corn starch options, which are becoming more popular and more available as a result.
Not Taut
For some people, it’s easier to hold floss picks. Other people might like to hold floss in their hands to adjust the tautness. If your teeth are very close together, floss picks might not be taut enough to be effective. In this case, if you like using floss picks, you might use both floss picks and regular dental floss.
Flossing will help keep your teeth and gums healthy. Whether you’re using floss picks, dental floss, water picks, or a combination of these methods, you should use the method that works best for you. If you’ve just started flossing and you notice your gums bleeding, be gentle and keep flossing. Your gums will be a bit sore at first, but this will go away before too long. If you have pain in your teeth or gums, make an appointment with your dentist. Your dentist can assess any problems and help you keep your mouth healthy.
