Types of Dental Floss: How to Choose the Best Floss

Waxed, PTFE, Expanding Floss, Dental Tape or Water Flosser?

Choosing dental floss should be simple. Then you reach the pharmacy aisle and discover waxed floss, unwaxed floss, expanding floss, dental tape, monofilament floss, floss picks, threaders, interdental brushes and water flossers.

The good news is that there is no single product everyone must use.

The most suitable option depends on:

• How tightly your teeth contact
• Whether floss tends to shred
• The size of the spaces between your teeth
• Whether you have braces, bridges or implants
• Your gum health
• Your hand dexterity
• Which method you can use correctly and consistently

For many people with tight contacts, ordinary soft waxed floss, smooth monofilament floss or expanding floss works well. Wider spaces may be cleaned more effectively with interdental brushes. Bridges and braces often require threaders or specialized floss, while a water flosser can be useful when dexterity, appliances or personal preference make string floss difficult.

The Canadian Dental Association and American Dental Association recommend cleaning between the teeth daily because toothbrush bristles cannot effectively reach every interdental surface.

Quick Floss Selection Guide

Your situation	Options worth considering
Very tight contacts	Smooth waxed floss or monofilament floss
Floss frequently shreds	Monofilament or shred-resistant floss; also have rough restorations checked
Different spacing throughout the mouth	Expanding floss
Wider spaces	Interdental brushes or dental tape
Gum recession or periodontal bone loss	Correctly sized interdental brushes
Dental bridge	Floss threader, three-part floss or interdental brush
Braces	Threader floss, orthodontic floss, interdental brush or water flosser
Dental implants	An implant-appropriate interdental brush, specialized floss or water flosser as instructed
Limited hand dexterity	Floss holder, floss pick, interdental brush or water flosser
Traditional floss feels uncomfortable	Soft waxed floss, dental tape or expanding floss
You will not use string floss consistently	Another effective interdental cleaner you can use daily

The table is a starting point rather than a prescription. One person may need different products for different parts of the mouth.

Why Clean Between the Teeth?

Toothbrush bristles clean the exposed outer, inner and chewing surfaces of teeth, but they cannot predictably enter tight contact areas between neighbouring teeth.

Plaque left between teeth can contribute to:

• Gingival inflammation
• Bleeding gums
• Interproximal cavities
• Tartar formation
• Food retention
• Persistent bad breath

Dental floss, interdental brushes, water flossers and other purpose-designed cleaners can remove food debris and disrupt plaque in areas the toothbrush does not reach effectively.

The scientific evidence is more nuanced than the usual “floss or lose every tooth” slogan. Short-term research suggests that adding floss or interdental brushes to brushing can reduce plaque or gingivitis, although study quality and effect sizes vary. Interdental brushes may perform better than floss where spaces are large enough to accommodate them safely.

The practical conclusion remains sensible:

Clean between your teeth daily using a method suited to your mouth and used with an effective technique.

Types of Dental Floss

Waxed Floss

Waxed floss is commonly made from multiple nylon filaments coated with a light wax.

Possible advantages

• Slides more smoothly than some unwaxed flosses
• May be easier to guide through tight contacts
• Often feels comfortable against the fingers and gums
• Widely available
• Comes in several thicknesses and flavours

Possible disadvantages

• Multifilament varieties can still fray
• Some versions may feel too thick for extremely tight contacts
• Heavy wax or flavouring may not appeal to everyone

Waxed floss is a dependable starting point for many patients.

Research has not established a meaningful overall cleaning advantage of waxed over unwaxed floss; technique and regular use matter more.

Unwaxed Floss

Unwaxed floss usually consists of multiple nylon filaments without a wax coating.

Possible advantages

• Can feel thinner
• May produce a noticeable squeaking sensation against a clean tooth
• Works well for people who prefer an uncoated texture

Possible disadvantages

• May fray or separate more easily
• Can feel less smooth through tight contacts
• Some people find it harder to control

The squeak does not prove that one type cleaned better than another. Choose based on comfort and whether you can adapt the floss closely to each tooth.

Monofilament or PTFE Floss

Monofilament floss is made from a single smooth strand rather than multiple fibres twisted together. Some products use PTFE or related polymer materials.

Possible advantages

• Slides easily through tight contacts
• Highly resistant to shredding
• Smooth texture
• Useful around contacts where ordinary nylon repeatedly frays

Possible disadvantages

• Can feel slippery and harder to grip
• May be more difficult to wrap closely around the tooth
• Some people prefer the textured feel of multifilament floss
• Usually costs more than basic nylon floss

Smoothness helps the floss enter the contact, but it still needs to form a C shape against the tooth. Simply snapping it through and pulling it straight out provides limited cleaning.

Dental Tape

Dental tape is broader and flatter than conventional floss.

Possible advantages

• Spreads pressure across a wider surface
• Often feels soft and comfortable
• Can be easier for beginners to control
• May suit moderate or wider contacts
• Useful for patients who dislike a thin cord-like sensation

Possible disadvantages

• May be difficult to pass through very tight contacts
• Width varies considerably among products
• It may not fit every space in the same mouth

Dental tape can be an excellent option when ordinary floss feels sharp or difficult to control.

What Is Expanding Floss?

Expanding floss is designed to become wider or more textured as it becomes wet, relaxes after passing through the contact, or is moved against the tooth.

Instead of remaining as one thin, smooth strand, it spreads into a softer, broader bundle of fibres.

This can help it adapt to:

• Slightly wider interdental spaces
• Irregular contact areas
• Teeth with different spacing throughout the mouth
• Areas where a narrow floss feels ineffective
• Patients who prefer a softer, cushioned texture

It should still be guided carefully beneath the contact and curved around each tooth.

Is Expanding Floss Better Than Regular Floss?

Not universally.

An older clinical comparison of variable-diameter expanding floss and conventional unwaxed floss found no significant difference in plaque or gingivitis reduction over the short study period. A later laboratory study reported greater plaque-depth removal for one expanding-floss product than selected conventional products, but laboratory findings do not automatically establish superior long-term outcomes in patients.

The most defensible conclusion is:

Expanding floss may offer better comfort and adaptation for certain spaces, but it has not been proven to be categorically better for everyone.

Its strongest practical advantage is versatility.

Expanding Floss Versus Regular Floss

Feature	Expanding floss	Conventional waxed or unwaxed floss
Initial thickness	Usually narrow enough to enter the contact	Varies by product
Behaviour between teeth	Spreads or becomes fuller	Generally maintains its shape
Texture	Soft and fibrous	Smooth or cord-like
Mixed spacing	Often useful	May require changing thickness
Very tight contacts	May work, depending on product	Thin waxed or smooth monofilament may enter more easily
Wide spaces	Better adaptation than some thin flosses	May feel too narrow
Shredding	Varies	Multifilament floss can fray
Evidence of universal superiority	No	No

Who may like expanding floss?

It may suit people who:

• Have tight contacts in some areas and more open contacts elsewhere
• Find ordinary floss too thin
• Want a softer cleaning sensation
• Have mild gum recession
• Dislike very slippery monofilament floss
• Prefer one versatile product rather than several thicknesses

Who may prefer another option?

Expanding floss may not be ideal when:

• Contacts are exceptionally tight
• It catches on rough fillings or calculus
• A bridge requires a stiff threader end
• Spaces are large enough for an interdental brush
• The user dislikes a fibrous texture

Expanding Floss Versus Sliding or Monofilament Floss

Searches often compare “expanding floss” with “sliding floss.”

In practical terms:

• Sliding or monofilament floss prioritizes easy passage through tight contacts and resistance to shredding.
• Expanding floss prioritizes softness and broader adaptation after it enters the space.

Choose smooth monofilament floss when the biggest challenge is getting through a tight contact without shredding.

Choose expanding floss when the contact can be entered comfortably but a thin strand feels too narrow or ineffective against the tooth surfaces.

Some patients use smooth floss in the front and expanding floss in more open posterior areas. There is no rule requiring one product throughout the entire mouth.

Three-Part Floss and Super-Floss-Style Products

These products commonly contain:

1. A stiffened end
2. A thicker, spongy section
3. A conventional floss section

They are designed for cleaning beneath or around:

• Fixed bridges
• Orthodontic wires
• Implant-supported restorations
• Wide embrasures
• Retainers

The stiff end acts like a built-in floss threader. Once it passes beneath the restoration or appliance, the spongy section can clean the broader space.

Do not force a bulky section into a tight contact.

Floss Threaders

A floss threader is a flexible loop that helps carry conventional floss beneath:

• Bridges
• Orthodontic wires
• Fixed retainers
• Connected crowns
• Other restorations that prevent floss from passing down through the contact

The floss is inserted through the loop, and the threader is guided beneath the appliance.

Threaders allow the user to select a preferred floss rather than relying on a pre-cut specialized product.

Floss Picks and Floss Holders

Floss picks place a short segment of floss on a plastic handle.

Advantages

• Convenient
• Easy to carry
• Useful for people who struggle to wrap floss around their fingers
• Can improve access to back teeth
• Often more realistic for patients who otherwise will not floss

Limitations

• The short segment may become soiled quickly
• Some designs make a complete C shape difficult
• Tension is fixed
• It may be harder to clean both surfaces thoroughly
• Forcing the pick can injure the gums

A floss pick is not automatically ineffective. Technique still matters.

Guide it gently through the contact, curve the strand against one tooth as much as the holder allows, move it beneath the gum edge, then repeat against the neighbouring tooth.

Interdental Brushes

Interdental brushes are tiny cylindrical or tapered brushes available in multiple sizes.

They are particularly useful for:

• Open interdental spaces
• Gum recession
• Periodontal bone loss
• Braces
• Bridges
• Selected implant areas
• Concavities where a thin floss does not fill the space

The brush should pass with light resistance rather than being forced. A brush that is too small may not contact the tooth surfaces adequately, while one that is too large can traumatize the gums or bend repeatedly.

Evidence reviews suggest interdental brushes may remove more plaque than floss where the space accommodates them appropriately.

Different areas of the same mouth may require different sizes. A dentist or hygienist can demonstrate the appropriate fit.

Water Flossers

A water flosser directs a pulsating stream of water between the teeth and along the gumline.

It may be particularly useful for:

• Orthodontic appliances
• Bridges
• Dental implants
• Limited dexterity
• Patients who strongly dislike string floss
• Larger spaces
• Areas that are difficult to thread

Water flossers are recognized as legitimate interdental-cleaning devices, and certain products have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing plaque and gingivitis when used as directed.

A recent systematic review found that many included studies favoured water flossers over string floss for selected plaque and gingival outcomes, although product design, methods and study quality vary.

Does a water flosser replace string floss?

For some patients, it can serve as their primary interdental-cleaning device.

It does not automatically need to be paired with string floss. The better question is whether it is cleaning the patient’s specific spaces effectively.

String floss may provide closer physical contact in tight healthy contacts. A water flosser may be more realistic and effective for another patient with braces, implants, dexterity limitations or poor compliance with string floss.

The ADA advises selecting the interdental method according to the patient’s anatomy and needs rather than insisting on one tool for everyone.

How to Choose Floss for Your Mouth

Very Tight Contacts

Try:

• Thin waxed floss
• Smooth monofilament floss
• Shred-resistant floss

Avoid snapping the floss through the contact. Use a controlled side-to-side movement until it passes gently.

Floss Shreds or Catches

Possible causes include:

• A rough filling margin
• Tartar
• A fractured tooth
• A cavity
• An overhanging restoration
• Very tight or irregular contacts
• A multifilament floss prone to fraying

Trying monofilament floss may solve the product problem.

If floss repeatedly catches or tears in the same location, have the area assessed. The CDA advises seeking dental evaluation when shredding persists because a rough tooth or restoration may be responsible.

Wider Spaces

Consider:

• Interdental brushes
• Expanding floss
• Dental tape
• Rubber interdental cleaners

A thin strand may pass through without adequately contacting a concave or widely separated surface.

Gum Recession

Recession can create triangular spaces beneath the original contact point.

An interdental brush may clean these spaces more effectively than string floss. Expanding floss can be useful where the space is only mildly enlarged.

Use gentle pressure and seek sizing guidance if the papillae or roots are sensitive.

Bleeding Gums

Do not saw more aggressively in an attempt to “scrub the blood away.”

Bleeding may be caused by:

• Plaque-related gingival inflammation
• Inconsistent cleaning
• Traumatic technique
• A brush or interdental cleaner that is too large
• Periodontal disease
• Other local or medical factors

A small amount of bleeding can occur when someone begins cleaning inflamed gums consistently. It should improve rather than continue indefinitely. The CDA recommends dental assessment when bleeding does not settle after several days or occurs nearly every time you brush or floss.

Braces

Options include:

• Floss threaders
• Orthodontic floss
• Three-part floss
• Interdental brushes
• Water flossers

Clean:

• Between the teeth
• Beneath the archwire
• Above and below each bracket
• Around the gumline

A toothbrush alone cannot reach every area surrounding orthodontic hardware.

Bridges

A fixed bridge cannot be flossed by passing ordinary floss down through the contact because the replacement tooth is joined to its supporting crowns.

Use:

• A threader
• Three-part floss
• A suitable interdental brush
• A water flosser when appropriate

The area beneath the replacement tooth and along the supporting crown margins must be cleaned.

Dental Implants

Cleaning recommendations depend on:

• Implant position
• Restoration design
• Tissue anatomy
• Size of the spaces
• Whether the restoration is a single crown, bridge or full-arch prosthesis

Possible tools include:

• Implant-appropriate interdental brushes
• Specialized floss
• Threaders
• Water flossers

Some implant brushes use a coated wire to reduce contact with the restoration.

An implant is not vulnerable to decay, but the surrounding tissues can develop inflammatory disease.

Limited Dexterity

Consider:

• Floss holders
• Long-handled interdental brushes
• Water flossers
• Powered interdental cleaners
• Adaptive handles

The best tool is the one the person can operate safely without frustration or assistance they do not have.

How to Floss Correctly

1. Use enough floss

Use a piece approximately the length of your forearm or arm.

Wrap most of it around the middle finger of one hand and a smaller amount around the other. Leave a short working section controlled by the thumbs and index fingers.

2. Guide it through the contact

Use a gentle back-and-forth motion.

Do not snap the floss into the gums.

3. Form a C shape

Curve the floss around one tooth so it hugs the tooth surface.

4. Move beneath the gum edge

Slide gently until slight resistance is felt. Do not force the floss deeply into the tissue.

5. Clean the tooth surface

Move the floss up and down against the side of the tooth several times.

6. Clean the neighbouring tooth

Reverse the C shape and repeat against the other tooth.

7. Use a clean section

Advance to a fresh portion as you move around the mouth.

8. Include the last teeth

Clean behind the very last molar on each side.

The CDA recommends wrapping floss into a C shape, cleaning both sides of every contact and moving to a clean section as you progress.

Should You Floss Before or After Brushing?

Either sequence is acceptable when both are performed thoroughly.

A randomized clinical trial found that flossing before brushing produced greater interdental plaque reduction and higher fluoride concentration in interdental plaque than brushing first in the study population. That gives floss-first a reasonable practical argument, although it does not mean brushing first is ineffective.

My practical recommendation is:

Floss first when it helps you remember and allows fluoride toothpaste to reach freshly cleaned spaces—but consistency is more important than sequence.

The ADA similarly states that either order is acceptable and that the most sustainable routine is the best one.

How Often Should You Floss?

Clean between the teeth at least once daily.

The time of day matters less than choosing a time when you can be thorough. Many people prefer evening because it removes plaque and trapped food before sleep.

The CDA recommends flossing at least once a day, while the ADA recommends daily use of floss or another interdental cleaner.

Do not repeatedly reuse a disposable section of floss. It can fray, become worn and redistribute debris.

Common Flossing Mistakes

Snapping the floss into the gums

Pass the contact gently rather than using a sudden downward force.

Sawing horizontally

The objective is to wipe the side of each tooth vertically, not cut into the papilla.

Cleaning only the contact point

Plaque extends along the side of the tooth and slightly beneath the gum edge.

Flossing only where food is stuck

Plaque can remain even when no food is visible.

Using one straight movement between two teeth

Each interdental space contains two tooth surfaces. Curve around one, then the other.

Ignoring the back of the last molars

Those surfaces collect plaque even though there is no neighbouring tooth behind them.

Forcing the wrong tool

A large interdental brush should not be driven through a tight contact. Likewise, very thin floss may be inadequate for a large open embrasure.

Stopping permanently because of bleeding

Improve the technique and continue gently, but arrange an assessment when bleeding persists, worsens or is accompanied by swelling, recession, mobility or persistent bad breath.

Does Floss Brand Matter?

Brand is less important than:

• Thickness
• Texture
• Shred resistance
• Comfort
• Ability to reach the necessary spaces
• Ease of handling
• Consistent use

Packaging language such as “deep clean,” “professional,” “advanced” or “whitening” does not automatically establish superior cleaning.

An ADA- or CDA-recognized product provides third-party support for the specific safety or oral-health claims that were reviewed, but it does not mean every other product is unsuitable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best type of dental floss?

There is no universal best type.

For tight contacts, soft waxed or smooth monofilament floss may work well. Expanding floss can suit mixed spacing, while interdental brushes are often preferable for wider spaces. The best product is one that fits your anatomy and can be used correctly every day.

Is expanding floss better than regular floss?

Not for everyone.

Expanding floss provides a broader, softer texture and may adapt well to variable spacing, but clinical evidence does not establish it as universally superior to conventional floss.

What is expanding floss used for?

It is useful for patients who have different interdental-space sizes, find ordinary floss too narrow or prefer a soft textured cleaning surface.

Is expanding floss good for tight teeth?

Some expanding products enter tight contacts easily before expanding.

For extremely tight contacts, smooth waxed or monofilament floss may slide through more predictably.

What is the difference between expanding floss and sliding floss?

Expanding floss widens or becomes more fibrous after entering the space.

Sliding or monofilament floss remains smooth and narrow, making it especially useful for tight contacts and areas where multifilament floss shreds.

Is waxed or unwaxed floss better?

Neither has been shown to be consistently more effective.

Waxed floss may slide more smoothly, while unwaxed floss may feel thinner. Personal preference and technique are more important.

Is dental tape the same as floss?

Dental tape is a form of floss that is broader and flatter.

It may feel gentler and can work well in moderate or wider contacts.

Why does my floss keep shredding?

The floss itself may be prone to fraying, but repeated shredding in one location can indicate a rough filling, tartar, decay or a damaged tooth.

Try a shred-resistant monofilament floss and have the area assessed if the problem persists.

Should my gums bleed when I floss?

A small amount of bleeding can occur when inflamed gums are first cleaned consistently.

Bleeding should improve. Persistent or frequent bleeding should be evaluated for gingivitis, periodontal disease, traumatic technique or another cause.

Should I stop flossing if my gums bleed?

Do not abandon cleaning completely.

Continue gently with the correct technique, but contact your dentist when bleeding does not improve after several days, occurs almost every time or is accompanied by swelling or pain.

Should I floss before or after brushing?

Either order can work.

Flossing first may provide a modest plaque and fluoride-retention advantage, but the most important factor is completing both steps thoroughly.

Can a water flosser replace string floss?

It can be an appropriate primary interdental cleaner for selected patients.

Its suitability depends on tooth spacing, restorations, appliances, dexterity and technique. Some patients may still need string floss or interdental brushes in selected areas.

Are floss picks as good as regular floss?

They can be useful, particularly when regular floss is difficult to handle.

Some designs make complete adaptation around the tooth harder, so technique and access should be considered.

Are interdental brushes better than floss?

They may be more effective when spaces are large enough to accommodate the correct brush size.

String floss remains useful for tight contacts where a brush cannot enter safely.

How do I floss under a bridge?

Use a floss threader, three-part floss, appropriately sized interdental brush or another tool recommended for the bridge design.

The cleaning device must pass beneath the replacement tooth because ordinary floss cannot move down through the connected crowns.

How often should I floss?

Clean between the teeth once daily using floss or another appropriate interdental cleaner.

The Best Floss Is the One That Fits Your Mouth

The familiar advice that “the best floss is the one you will use” is largely true—but fit and technique still matter.

A product should:

• Pass through the contact safely
• Adapt to the tooth surface
• Clean the entire interdental area
• Avoid unnecessary trauma
• Work around existing restorations
• Be practical enough for daily use

For one patient, that may be inexpensive waxed floss. For another, it may be expanding floss, an interdental brush, a threader or a water flosser.

At MI Dental, we can identify the areas where plaque is accumulating and demonstrate which floss or interdental device best suits your tooth spacing, gum condition, restorations and dexterity.