Regular Floss vs Floss Picks

The decision to use regular floss vs floss picks can be tough.  It can be hard for people to decide how they like to floss their teeth.  Regular floss used to be the only method available until floss picks were introduced.

Are floss picks better than regular floss? Floss picks have become a very popular method of cleaning your gum line and between your teeth.  The first time I saw a floss pick was when my dentist handed me the dental tool after I finished having some work done on my gums.  I remember being surprised by it but ended up loving it and it has become part of my regular hygiene routine. However, both regular floss and floss picks provide the same result – the choice is largely due to personal preference.

Nowadays you will find lots of companies that produce floss picks with different colors and styles available in stores everywhere. You should know the pros and cons of both flossing methods to make the best decision for your dental hygiene routine.

Floss Picks Pros & Cons

Floss picks have been shown to eliminate bacteria that form on the gum line. By using a floss pick you can protect your gums so they stay healthy and maintain their shape. Dentists know that an unhealthy mouth leads to oral diseases as well as other very serious health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and even premature aging.

Floss picks are also helpful in cleaning food debris out between your teeth which helps with preventing cavities from forming or growing bigger. The above point about cavity prevention is very important for children since kids love chewing on things and foods like candy tend to leave behind a sticky residue on our teeth making our mouth perfect for cavity forming.  Using a floss pick to remove debris between your teeth will help prevent the sticky food from festering an ugly and painful cavity.

Floss picks work well to remove plaque which can irritate your gum line as well as lead to tooth decay. Using dental picks encourages better oral hygiene. Since you don’t need water, it’s portable and effective for people who have little or no space between their teeth.

Disadvantages of Floss Picks

A disadvantage of using floss picks is that they can be very easy to lose. This mostly applies to people who are careless and do not put them away properly. I recommend putting them inside a small container so they’ll never get misplaced –  we all know how annoying it is when we misplace things and spend hours trying to find them!

Another disadvantage of floss picks is that sometimes kids might think that picking their tooth with such small pointed tools will be fun but it’s very dangerous for them since they might damage their teeth and gum line. Adult supervision is always advised. It is also important to note that floss picks are potentially hazardous for children, especially toddlers, who could choke on them.

Regular Floss Pros & Cons

Regular floss comes in a roll that has 100 yards of it. It’s not hard to use at all. In fact, people have been doing this for many years! All you need to do is dip the string into water (this lubricates it) then place one end connected with your teeth and push on the other end between those teeth that you wish to clean.

Keep pushing until you can’t go any further (by which time you should be around at least 2 inches away from your gum line). Then using a sawing motion, move the floss back and forth across your gums. Be gentle so as not to cause any injury to your gum line.

One possible disadvantage of using regular dental floss is that you need water or some sort of liquid for the floss to slide easier. This becomes a problem especially when you are on vacation or traveling and don’t have access to running water.

Another problem with regular floss is that some people might find it hard to use since there is no handle for them to hold on to.

Which Is Better: Regular Floss or Floss Picks?

Now with regards to which method is better for cleaning your mouth, each has its advantages and disadvantages. Floss picks are very popular because they are more convenient to use when compared to regular dental floss. When using a floss pick it is also far easier for people with braces or bridges, or even if you have dentures.

Floss picks are relatively inexpensive but as usual, the cheapest ones don’t last that long before needing to be replaced so I would recommend investing in some higher quality brands of these.

Regular dental floss is also something that many people prefer because it’s just part of their regular oral hygiene routine. They know what they like when it comes to this method including whether they prefer waxed string or not.

So, really it comes down to two things when deciding which method of dental floss you prefer.  It’s a combination of what works best for your own teeth and gums plus your personal preference on how you like to clean your mouth.

Do I Need To Use Floss?

The dental team at Magnolia Family Dental is passionate about informing individuals of the importance of flossing. Flossing is the best way to maintain and protect healthy teeth and gums. It helps when it comes to killing bacteria in general within your mouth and in areas where normal toothbrushes just can’t reach because they are simply too big.

When you don’t floss as often as recommended, then not only do things become more difficult for both you and your dentist, you’re also putting yourself at risk for developing gum disease which can be harmful to your health in the long run.

Whether you have healthy teeth, a condition that will lead to gum disease, or whether your gums are already infected with the bacteria, flossing is incredibly important. You never know when you will get a toothache, and it’s best to prevent these infections, to begin with instead of trying to cure them once they have already developed.

However, keep in mind that just because flossing is very important, it doesn’t mean that things aren’t going to happen whether we like it or not. It’s always recommended though that you go see your dentist regularly so you can stay current with your oral hygiene routine.

How Often Should I Floss?

If you want to have healthy teeth and gums then it’s best to floss your teeth at least once per day. This is especially important if you are not able to get regular dental check-ups. Not cleaning food away from between your teeth can cause cavities and gum disease.

So again, I highly recommend using a flossing pick cleaner after eating whatever meal you like and of course, make sure it’s something that stays in your mouth for at least two minutes so that all the food debris gets removed properly!

You should also floss your teeth every night before going to bed as this gives your gums a chance to heal overnight. In fact, I believe that you should change the type of string being used in your floss picks at least once every two weeks because otherwise it’s not really doing its job. If you have healthy teeth and gums then replacing the pick twice per month is more than enough for keeping things clean and food-free.

So What’s the Bottom Line?

Regular floss is a wonderful method of cleaning your mouth due to it being something that has been around forever and so many people prefer it. But with the invention of floss picks which are more convenient for those who don’t have any teeth or dentures, this seems to be an obvious winner!

Some people find both methods equally comfortable since they have never used one before, plus there are always new alternatives to dental floss being made including the brands that are now offering extra-wide flossers that reach further into your mouth.

So it all really comes down to choosing what works well for you and then, of course, remembering to use regular dental floss or a dental pick for cleaning your teeth. Just don’t forget the importance of cleaning your mouth regularly so as not to avoid any health problems in the future!

Both floss and dental picks have their strengths and weaknesses but it’s important to know the pros and cons of each one before deciding which one you are going to buy. If you are a person who has little clearance between your teeth then using dental picks would be better as they take up less room.

Using regular floss can be difficult with irregularly shaped teeth (although floss makers now make various shapes in hopes of improving this problem). The advantages of using floss are that you can use it without water and more importantly, it only costs around a dollar or two for 100 yards of floss.