Flossing is a core part of any daily oral health routine, and there are a lot of tools out there that claim to do the job. So, does it matter if you clean between your teeth with string floss or interdental brushes? The right flossing tool may be different from patient to patient, dentists say.
While flossing comes up in every routine dental appointment, patients often have a hard time sticking to a good flossing routine, Dr. Alice Boghosian, a consumer advisor spokesperson for the American Dental Association, tells TODAY.com.
For example, many of the patients that come to Dr. Shelia Yaghmai haven't flossed since their last cleaning because they "find it challenging or cumbersome," she tells TODAY.com.
Boghosian adds: “It’s just an extra step that people have to do. But, quite simply, you have to.”
And there are so many flossing tools to choose from these days, including traditional string floss as well as water flossers and brushes that clean between your teeth (called interdental brushes or picks).
Is one more effective than the others? Not necessarily, the experts say. As long as you're cleaning between your teeth at least once a day, you can use whichever method you like.
"The one thing that I highly recommend to my patients is consistency," explains Yaghmai, a clinical assistant professor and group practice director of the UCLA Dental Center. Depending on the way your teeth are arranged and some underlying issues, there may be good reasons to choose one type of flossing over another, the experts say.
Both dentists liken flossing to exercise: You know it’s good for you, but it can be hard to stick to a routine until you find the type of activity that works for you.
Here's what to know — and how to pick.
String Floss Benefits
Traditional string floss is the standard way to clean between your teeth and it's the go-to for both Boghosian and Yaghmai.
"The ADA says you need to clean in between your teeth with something, be it floss, be it a brush, be it a little pick," Boghosian says. "But in my personal opinion, there is nothing like that little piece of string — if used properly."
String floss is the perfect tool to create a C-shaped curve that gets into the sulcus of the gums, Yaghmai explains, "which is that area around the tooth where the tooth and gums meet. That's where the plaque likes to sit."
It's also important not to be too aggressive with string floss, Yaghmai adds, or you can actually damage the triangle of gum tissue that sits between teeth.
"I have patients that use floss improperly — they just put it between their teeth, and they push it on their gums," Boghosian says. "I'll see little clefts in between their teeth."
So, if you can get into the habit of using string floss consistently and correctly, that's a great place to start. But there are some people for whom string floss simply doesn't work.
For older patients who have dexterity issues, it can be difficult to use string floss effectively, Boghosian says. Additionally, for folks with disabilities, other tools may be easier to use, Yaghmai adds, especially if a caregiver is handling their dental care.
People who wear braces also need to find another way to floss, such as a water flosser.
Interdental Brush Benefits
Like floss and water flossers, interdental brushes can help you clean in between your teeth. But they are fundamentally a different type of tool from flossing, the experts say.
Put succinctly, "It's a brush," Boghosian says. You can put a little toothpaste on it and use a gentle back-and-forth motion to clean in between the teeth, Yaghmai explains.
"And they come in different sizes," she adds, so it's important to buy the right size for your teeth. "What you don't want to do is force them in between your teeth," Boghosian says. That can damage your gums and cause bleeding.
Yaghmai recommends buying the smallest size available first, and only buying larger ones if those aren't working for you.
But people who have braces or people with dexterity issues may find it easier to clean in between their teeth with a brush like this rather than string floss. Additionally, those who have large gaps in between their teeth (possibly due to gum recession) may find a brush is actually more effective than floss, Yaghmai says.
Another benefit of interdental brushes is that the bristles are usually attached to a thin, malleable wire, Yaghmai explains. "So you have the ability to bend the tip of these interdental brushes to fit in the back of the teeth or the back of the mouth," she says.
If you want to use interdental brushes in place of string floss, that's totally fine, the experts agree. Just make sure you're using the right size and you're being consistent and gentle.
Should You Use Floss or Interdental Brushes?
The basics of dental health are pretty simple: Brush at least twice a day and clean in between your teeth at least once day. And when you're deciding how to clean in between your teeth, it's really up to you, the experts agree.
While string floss may be the "gold standard," Boghosian says, "we're kind of picking through the weeds here trying to say which is best. ... As long as you do something rather than nothing, it's great."
So, ultimately, pick whichever tool makes it easiest for you to stick to a consistent — daily — cleaning routine. If you have some dexterity issues or wear braces, a water flosser or interdental brush may be easier to use on a regular basis. But if you are able, using string floss remains an extremely effective option.
And keep in mind that you don't have to choose just one! While Boghosian sticks with string floss most of the time, "I will be using an interdental toothpick throughout the day just to get the food out," she says.
It's worth it to find a flossing method that works for you. And, if you're not sure what's best or you're curious about non-string floss options that would work for your teeth, chat with your dentist.
