While brushing your teeth at least twice a day is a key component of a thorough oral hygiene routine, it's also important to ensure you're flossing at least once per day as well.
What are the benefits of flossing?
Although our saliva is pretty good at rinsing away food debris after we eat, there will always be some that needs to be cleaned away by brushing and flossing.
Flossing enables you to reach all those difficult to reach areas of your mouth that a toothbrush just can't reach. Dental floss can clean between your teeth and beneath the gum line to remove the buildup of plaque, food debris and bacteria that can easily become lodged in tiny gaps.
By ensuring you're cleaning between your teeth, you'll successfully keep tartar at bay, keep your breath fresh, and prevent gum disease. Many people find it beneficial to floss at night before going to bed, however the most important thing is that you're doing it every day as consistency is key to seeing positive results.
What is the best dental floss?
There are several different types of dental floss that can be used to clean between your teeth. Traditional floss comes on a roll and can be easily cut to the required size using the dispenser it comes in. You can also purchase dental tape in this form, which is flatter and wider and may help you to better clean all areas of your mouth.
If you struggle with dexterity, using floss picks which are plastic handles with a small length of dental floss attached may be a good option for you. The floss is thin and the handle can be much easier to grip than just a length of floss alone.
Getting optimal results from using this type of floss requires a solid technique and consistency. However, if you want to take all of the guesswork out of flossing, you may want to consider an alternative option.
What is the best dental floss alternative?
There are several alternative options so if you can't get on with traditional dental floss, you can still achieve a thorough clean every single day.
Interdental Brushes
Interdental brushes are essentially very small toothbrushes, which are specifically designed to clean the areas between your teeth. Interdental brushes can be particularly useful for people with braces, however they're also a good alternative to floss.
Soft Picks
Soft picks offer the benefits of both dental picks and interdental brushes in one. They are typically made from plastic and have a soft end with bristles made from rubber. They're designed to fit easily between the teeth to offer a thorough clean without causing any damage to the surface of the teeth or gums.
Water Flossers
Some of the best dental floss alternative options are water flossers, which use pulses of water to effectively remove plaque and food debris from between your teeth. Water flossers are versatile tools and are suitable for use around dental implants, braces and veneers, which isn't always the case with traditional dental floss.
Switching to a water flosser can take some getting used to, as it's very different to traditional floss. However, many people report that water flossers are much easier to use and deliver a more thorough clean when used every day.
We recommend choosing a water flosser with different modes, as this will allow you to customise your cleaning experience and choose a mode that is comfortable on your teeth and gums.
Ultrasonic Tooth Cleaners
Ultrasonic tooth cleaners use vibrations to deeply clean the teeth and remove stains, tartar and plaque. They come with a precision tip that can easily reach all areas of your mouth while being gentle on your gums. Best viewed as an add-on to an existing brushing and flossing routine, ultrasonic tooth cleaners can be used up to three times per week to keep your teeth looking and feeling as clean as possible.
