Floss vs. Floss Picks
By Katrina Robinson
You know how important oral health is. Since you were a child, you’ve been told to brush your teeth at least twice a day and to be sure that you floss each and every day in order to prevent halitosis, dental caries, and gum disease.
But the seemingly simple act of flossing can actually be kind of confusing. What exactly is the difference between traditional floss and floss picks, and which one is better for your teeth and gums?
Traditional dental floss is either a plastic ribbon or a bundle of nylon filaments used to clean between the teeth. There are many varieties of dental floss, and everyone has their favorite: waxed or unwaxed, flavored or unflavored. Dental floss is fairly inexpensive; the average cost for one plastic dispenser filled with three yards of floss is around one dollar.
While traditional dental floss has been around since the 1810s, floss picks came a bit later, in the late 1880s. They are disposable, individual pieces of plastic. Each pick is composed of two prongs that extend from a thin, plastic “stick.” One piece of dental floss runs between the two prongs.
There are two main types of floss picks available, the “Y”-shaped angle and the “F”-shaped angle. Just like traditional dental floss, floss picks come in a wide variety of sizes, colors, and flavors. The design of floss picks makes them very portable; it’s easy to throw a couple of floss picks into your purse, toiletry bag, or car, whereas a traditional dental floss container is a bit bulkier and takes up more room. However, floss picks are significantly more expensive than dental floss. One pack of thirty floss picks runs from three to four dollars.
So which method do dentists approve of? According to a survey held by website The Wealthy Dentist, 64% of dentists recommended regular dental floss while only 11% recommended floss picks. However, as one dentist stated, as long as you floss, that’s all that matters—whether you choose traditional floss or floss picks is really up to you.
Katrina Robinson is a freelance writer and editor who covers a wide variety of finance topics including the best 0 APR credit cards, balance transfers cards, and reward credit card offers.