We all know the importance of regularly using dental floss in addition to brushing our teeth. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends adults floss at least once daily to reach the areas brushing misses. In fact, flossing as we know it dates all the way back to 1819, when New Orleans dentist, Levi Spear Parmly, first recommended using a waxen silk thread to dislodge particles of food from between teeth.
Midway through the 20th century, silk was replaced with nylon for most dental floss products. Nylon became a better choice because of its unique properties for abrasion resistance, and its ease of mass production in virtually any desired length or size.
Shred-resistant texture
This Oral-B mint floss delivers the efficient experience you would expect from the established brand. The unique floss technology offers deep cleaning power with the added comfort of “Glide.” The resulting product is extra soft and gentle on gums, yet able to remove the toughest plaque. In fact, Oral-B Glide floss slides up to 50 percent more easily than regular floss.
Buy: Glide Oral-B Pro-Health Deep Clean Floss
Natural beeswax and vegetable wax coating
Dr. Tung’s is a patented high-performance dental floss. This design also means it is gentler on gums and softer on your fingers. It’s lightly waxed with a natural blend of vegetable and beeswax for enhanced effectiveness and comfort, using no petrochemical-based wax. Smart Floss is PTFE-free, BPA-free, and gluten-free. The natural cardamom flavor provides a vibrant, clean feeling. You’ll notice the difference right away when you wrap the floss around your fingers, then “tug and release” to cause the floss to expand. Even the packaging is eco-friendly and biodegradable.
Buy: Dr Tung’s Smart Floss, 30 yds, Dental Floss
Refreshing flavor
We’ve long known the freshening qualities that come from swishing some Listerine around in our mouths. Their Ultraclean dental floss product is no exception. It provides an effective flossing experience with a cool mint flavor that leaves your gums with its signature refreshed feeling. The Micro Groove technology removes small food particles between your teeth and around your gums – removing up to two times more plaque than other floss options. Ultraclean also uses shred-resistant technology to flex, stretch, and glide easily.
Buy: Listerine Ultraclean Dental Floss
Coconut-oil infused
Cocofloss is dentist-designed and woven with over 500 “grime-grabbing” fibers to scrub away plaque and debris. This unique textured weave provides for more surface area cleaning power and is more effective than typical floss products, which can be too slick. Cocofloss is infused with coconut oil but has a minty fresh flavor, aromatic fruit oils, and a light coating of vegan wax. Kids love the taste; parents love that it’s healthy and it gets them to floss. Cocofloss is free of toxins, parabens, sulfates, and PFAS.
Buy: COCOFLOSS Coconut-Oil Infused Woven Dental Floss
Keith Long is a contributing writer to Florida Travel & Life, an online brand that inspires active, affluent travelers, providing them with insider information on discovering the best of Florida. Informative and engaging, the website showcases travel destinations, arts and cultural venues, vibrant dining scenes, recreational activities, the great outdoors and the revitalized real-estate market. Keith loves sailing and exploring the islands of the Caribbean.
