The 11 Very Best Dental Floss

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Material:Partly recycled polyester filaments, microcrystalline wax, coconut oil, essential oils |Textured

Cocolab (formerly known as Cocofloss), is the brainchild of the Cu sisters, Chrystal (a dentist) and Cat (an artist). It was most recommended by the dentists I spoke to because it’s well-designed, comes in a wide variety of flavors, and is super-effective at removing plaque without hurting the gums. It’s soft yet textured, so it helps adhere to the tooth and remove debris more effectively, explains Dr. Huang. Plus, the string has a coating of coconut oil, which has antimicrobial properties and is also naturally soothing to gum tissue. I’ve tried the floss out for myself and can agree with everything the dentists said. The floss is a little thicker than drugstore flosses I’m used to, but I think it helps to grab more plaque and it’s not so thick that it can’t get in between areas where my teeth are more crowded.

Material:Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), natural wax |Smooth

Oral-B’s Glide floss comes out to a little more than $3 per pack of floss, making it a more affordable option than the above. Dentists recommend it because it’s smooth, strong, and can easily glide in tight places. It’s a waxed floss, meaning it “won’t get stuck in areas of tight contacts between teeth or on teeth restorations,” explains Dr. Rashmi Ambewadikar, a dentist at Astoria Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, who’s been using the floss since she got a free sample of it in dental school. One potential downside dentists noted is that it may not remove plaque as effectively as unwaxed floss, but it’s worth trying out if you want an inexpensive, easily accessible drugstore option.

Material:Silk, candelilla wax |Textured

If you’re looking for a floss that’s plastic free, senior editor Crystal Martin found a replacementbiodegradable silk optionfrom the company BamBaw. Compared to the tape-style flosses she’s used in the past, this one’s a “starchy, tough little floss.” It’s got grip, doesn’t fray, and is sturdy. “I can really get in there,” says Martin. “As a serious flosser (no on Waterpiks, no on floss picks), that is what’s important to me.” To boot, the starter comes in a stainless-steel container that’s both chic-looking and reusable.

Material:Silk, coconut oil |Textured

Radius was another silk-floss brand recommended by dentists, including Dr. Mark Burhenne, founder of AsktheDentist.com and the author ofThe 8-Hour Sleep Paradox, who uses it himself. A pack costs about $3, making it a more affordable option. It’s also waxed to help pick up debris between teeth but doesn’t include jojoba oil. And, it comes in a nice variety of flavors: peppermint, vanilla mint, cardamom, and unflavored.

Material:Polyester fiber, microcrystalline wax, xylitol |Spongy and smooth

Expanding floss is beneficial for wider gaps since it can grab onto more plaque compared to thinner, smoother flosses. Cosmetic dentistLauren Beckerrecommends Burst’s to patients (even those without wider gaps), since it’s easy to get between tight teeth before it expands, it doesn’t break or fray easily, and it tastes good. It also comes in black, meaning you can easily see all of the plaque it’s clinging onto. “I’ve tried quite a few brands, and this is definitely one of the better floss options I’ve used,” she says. “It makes flossing quicker, easier, and more satisfying when you can see what is actually coming out from under the gums.”

Material:Partly recycled polyester filaments, microcrystalline wax, coconut oil, essential oils |Textured

Back in May, Cocolab expanded its lineup of flosses with a version that’s 30 percent thinner than its original. My colleague Dominique Parisotested it outsince her teeth are in “extremely tight contact” so she could never use the original Cocofloss.This was able to fit in between her teeth and was much more effective than her usual Oral-B Glide, thanks to Cocofloss’s signature grippy-textured material. “Comparing Cocofloss to Oral-B Glide is like comparing a Swiffer to a Roborock,” Pariso said. “I was only slightly horrified by how much more gunk was on the Cocofloss after I finished my nightly hygiene routine.” I started testing it out myself a couple weeks ago and fully agree with Pariso. I have some areas of overlap in my teeth, and this one glides easily through the crowding, allowing for a seamless flossing experience.

Material:Nylon |Spongyand smooth

Flossing with braces is a challenge, but the design of these “super floss” strands from Oral-B helps, according to two dentists I spoke to. Each precut strand has a rigid plastic coating on the end that helps you easily grip the floss and thread it under the wires. The floss also has a spongy section, which helps clean around gaps and wide spaces, and a smooth section similar to traditional nylon floss, which helps clean under the gumline.

Material:Nylon |Smooth

These floss picks, which wererecommendedby NYC-based orthodontistDr. Jamie Royal, are convenient for folks with braces for a couple of reasons. Instead of the floss threader, these are thin enough to fit between teeth and braces wires, so you’re able to get in between each tooth with braces on. Plus the pick end of it has plastic bristles and is made to clean behind brackets. “They’re the bomb,” says Dr. Royal. “We give them to every patient with braces.”

Material:Nylon |Textured

Floss picks are a convenient option for on-the-go cleaning, but just note that they’re not as effective as traditional floss. “It’s difficult to wrap a floss pick around a tooth in a C-shape,” explains Dr. Huang, adding that most floss picks “bottom out” before reaching the bottom of the tooth’s sulcus (the space between the tooth surface and the surrounding gum tissue). If you want them for when you’re out and about or to help you get into the habit of flossing, she recommends Dentek floss picks. The floss itself is strong and textured, and the pick doubles as a tongue scraper.

Material:Straw wheat, PLA, natural flavor (mint), nylon-4|Smooth

Dr. Mariam Zade, a board-certified orthodontist, repeated the same sentiments about floss picks as Dr. Huang above, adding that they can produce a lot of waste. Instead of plastic floss picks, she recommends these from SmartLifeCo. The handle’s made out of biodegradable straw wheat and the thread’s made out of nylon-4, a type of biodegradable nylon.

Material:Nylon|Smooth

Dr. Ambewadikar says parents should help children with flossing until they’re around 6 to 8 years old, since it takes some time to develop the dexterity to do it properly. While they’re learning, floss picks are an excellent easy-to-grip option. Gum came up a couple of times for its colorful packaging and fun flavors, including these long-handled ones that Los Angeles–based cosmetic and general dentistDr. Jon Marashi’skids use themselves.