Best Ways to Floss: Flossing Tools and Their Pros and Cons

Many people tend to ignore flossing as part of their daily routine. Flossing is imperative when it comes to maintaining healthy oral hygiene. Flossing helps to keep healthy teeth and prevent several diseases. Flossing daily can prevent cavities and other gum diseases like gingivitis. Failure to floss leaves the mouth vulnerable to a host of dental conditions. 

 Flossing helps to remove plaque and tartar buildup between the teeth. If the plaque bacteria are not removed, it can result in swollen gums and gingivitis. It can also cause bleeding gums. Plaque buildup can result in bacteria that produce acids. The acids attack the teeth and destroy the enamel. The result is tooth decay and cavities. 

You should have a regular flossing routine to prevent all these from occurring. And the commonly used flossing tools are; string floss, water flosser, interdental brushes, and floss picks. The next question that comes to mind is, ‘what are the best ways to floss?” This article explores the available flossing options in detail. Stay active to learn more!

Flossing is essential to maintain perfect oral hygiene. Because flossing is vital to oral health, there are several ways to floss. Below is a detailed highlight of different flossing tools; 

This is the most common flossing tool available. It consists of a soft thread, a silk string, or other similar material to clean your teeth. It is a good way of cleaning the hard-to-reach spaces between the teeth. String floss can come in waxed and non-waxed formulas. Waxed strings glide between the teeth. 

The advantages of string floss include:

• It effectively removes plaque.
• It is very portable.
• It is the cheapest and most available option.
• String flossing is quick and easy.

The disadvantages of string floss include:

• It can be challenging to reach the back of the mouth. 
• Misuse of string floss can lead to pain in the gum tissue.
• It isn't easy to use with braces.
• It is not reusable.

A water flosser is a cleaning device that cleanses the teeth by shooting a thin stream of water. It is one of the best floss alternatives. The water pressure removes food debris and plaque from the teeth. Water flossing is an excellent alternative for those with traditional flossing issues. Tuski Water Flosser is a portable, easy-to-use option you can rely on to maintain perfect oral hygiene.

The advantages of water flossers include:

• They are an easy way to floss.
• They can work around braces and other orthodontic appliances.
• They massage the gum and reach spots traditional floss cannot.
• It is an excellent option for those with arthritis or limited dexterity.

The disadvantages of water flossers include:

• It is relatively expensive
• It can take up space on your bathroom counter.
• It needs electricity and water to function.

This flossing tool can also be called a proxy brush. It is coned-shaped with a plastic handle and a small head of bristles. The bristles can be made from silicone or nylon. It is held together by a wire. It is an excellent flossing option designed to fit between teeth. Most interdental brushes are flexible. You only have to insert the brush between your teeth. There are various sizes, so you can pick the size that works best for you. 

The advantages of interdental brushes include:

• It is easy to use for interdental cleaning. 
• It works well under the pontic portions of bridges. 
• It is good at removing plaque. 

The disadvantages of interdental brushes include:

• It can be hard to maneuver in tight spaces.
• It is more expensive than string floss. 

A floss pick is a plastic tool with a u-shaped end that holds a piece of dental floss. It is often used to dislodge food particles between the teeth. Some people choose to floss with floss picks. Floss picks don’t have bristles, so you only rely on a slight scraping motion to remove the bacteria.

 The advantages of floss pick include:

• They are straightforward to hold.
• Floss picks are an excellent floss alternative for people with arthritis or dexterity problems. 
• They don’t need constant winding and unwinding sections of floss. 
• They quickly move through the mouth.

The disadvantages of floss pick include:

• They can redistribute the bacteria and food particles.
• Some people find them challenging to use.
• They may prevent proper flossing technique.

Braces can make it difficult to floss. There are more straightforward ways to floss, even with braces on. A floss threader helps to make traditional flossing easier. A piece of string floss passes through the floss threader. The floss threader threads the floss beneath the wire.

 A water flosser is also a great alternative to flossing with braces on. A water flosser delivers streams of pressurised water between the braces. It helps to rid the mouth of plaque and food debris. It also helps to massage the gum lines.

An electric toothbrush is also an excellent idea for individuals with braces. An electric toothbrush scrubs at speeds of at least 30,000 strokes per minute. It removes food debris and bacteria from the teeth and under the wires. It is an excellent flossing alternative for individuals with braces.

To maintain good oral hygiene, you must floss daily. At least, it would be best if you floss once a day. You can floss as many times as you brush a day. It will help you remove plaque, bacteria, and food particles.

Regular flossing will help you protect against cavities and other gum diseases. Flossing after every meal will help remove debris stuck between the teeth. It will also aid you in preventing plaque buildup. 

Like brushing, flossing time varies for different people. For example, those with braces and other orthodontic appliances might take longer to floss. A first-timer is going to spend longer flossing than a veteran. However, a good flossing session should take about two to three minutes.