Best type of floss

The best floss is the type that fits between your teeth and that you can use gently and consistently.

Dental floss is a thin filament that cleans plaque and trapped food from the contact areas between teeth, where a toothbrush cannot reach. No single material is best for every mouth; fit, handling, and gum comfort matter.

Waxed or unwaxed floss can clean close contacts. Tape floss is broader and flatter, while floss threaders, super floss, and small interdental brushes help around bridges, braces, or wider spaces. The correct tool should pass with gentle resistance without snapping into the gum.

Seek dental care if flossing repeatedly causes bleeding, pain, swelling, a bad taste, or a place where the thread catches or shreds. Persistent bleeding can accompany gingival inflammation, while a tight or broken contact may need examination.

Use clean floss for each gap, curve it around one tooth in a C shape, and move it below the gum edge with light pressure before cleaning the adjacent tooth. If spaces are open, an appropriately sized interdental brush may remove plaque more effectively than string floss.