Whitening Dental Floss: What It Is, How It Works & Where to Buy
Table of Contents
- What Is Whitening Dental Floss?
- Does It Really Work?
- What Are Some Products?
- Is It Safe?
- What Are Other Whitening Floss Products?
- References
Whitening dental floss is a good choice for people who are looking for a brighter, whiter smile. With consistent use, it can potentially lighten the color of your teeth.
You can find it at most drugstores and pharmacies.
What is whitening dental floss?
Whitening dental floss is dental floss that is targeted to consumers looking to whiten their smile. Most whitening dental floss aims to prevent surface stains between teeth and reduce any plaque or particle buildup in order to allow teeth to brighten.
Some whitening dental floss claims to slide more easily between teeth to allow for a more effective removal of plaque or buildup. Others are coated with a mild abrasive (like tiny silica particles) or a compound to help break down discoloration-causing saliva deposits on the teeth.
Some brands may use whitening ingredients like hydrogen peroxide, but because floss is so thin, the whitening aspect of floss is more about particle breakdown and less about bleaching or changing the color of teeth.
Does whitening dental floss really work?
Any type of flossing helps teeth to appear whiter by eliminating or minimizing the buildup of food particles, plaque, and bacteria that can accumulate between the teeth. This doesn’t change the color of the teeth, but it helps them to appear brighter and fresher.
It also helps to prevent future stains and maintain oral health, which can have a major impact on overall health and wellness.
Daily flossing is an important part of any dental hygiene routine. It is paramount to preventing tooth decay and gum disease, the two problems that are at the root of nearly every dental and oral health condition.
Again, most whitening floss is not intended to change the actual color of your teeth. Many don’t even feature whitening ingredients.
Instead, the goal is to increase the effectiveness of flossing through a more functional design or the use of micro abrasives or chemical compounds. As a result, the floss may remove more particles or deposits that can stain teeth or make them appear dull or discolored.
What are some of the top whitening dental floss products?
There are a wide range of whitening dental floss options available today. Many brands use different ingredients or designs to offer the best results.
These are some of the top picks:
As a part of Oral-B’s popular 3D White line of products, these dental floss picks use a textured design to remove plaque and unappealing tartar. Oral-B also claims its Glide technology helps these picks to slide up to 50 percent easier between teeth than the leading brand.These are available in Radiant Mint flavor. They cost around $8 for a pack of 75 on Amazon.
Developed by the “Father of Aesthetic Dentistry”, Dr. Irwin Smigel, Supersmile’s floss uses Calprox (a proprietary gentle whitening ingredient) and baking soda. This floss is safe for veneers, dentures, and teeth that have been bonded. It’s also free of parabens, sulfates, and silica and triclosan.It costs $12 for a 45-yard roll on Amazon.
Snow’s mint-flavored floss claims to detox and whiten with the power of activated charcoal. The floss itself is made from 100 percent organic bamboo and coated in a natural biodegradable wax.Snow donates a portion of its profits to families who can’t afford dental care. It costs about $13.50 for 52 yards on Amazon.
In fun flavors like cara cara orange, coconut, and strawberry, the unique design COCOFLOSS uses is made from woven fibers that are designed to grab yellowing grime and reduce plaque and bacteria. The fibers are infused with coconut oil (a natural cleaner) and aromatic fruit oils, and they are lightly coated in a vegan wax.This floss costs $10 for a 32-yard roll on Amazon.
Is whitening dental floss safe?
Because whitening dental floss is simply dental floss, sometimes with additional ingredients (like hydrogen peroxide or micro abrasives), it is considered extremely safe. In fact, most dental experts would agree that anything that gets people to floss regularly, including the desire for a whiter smile, is a good thing.
Dentists and gum experts do warn, however, that too much flossing or being too aggressive with flossing can cause harm to your teeth and smile. Over-flossing can damage the gumline and make teeth appear unnaturally long or large. Using floss to go back and forth repeatedly between teeth can harm the tooth at the surface of the root.
Flossing daily is the general recommendation of dental professionals.
What are other whitening dental floss products?
While floss and floss picks are what most people think of when it comes to flossing, there are other flossing products on the market. These include the following:
Water flossers
Water flossers shoot a steady stream of water to clean bacteria and buildup between teeth. As with regular flossing, removing this tartar and bacteria can make teeth appear whiter and brighter.
There is some controversy over whether water flossers clean between teeth as well as string floss or floss picks. Some experts say water flossers aren’t effective enough to replace regular flossing in a daily dental routine. Other research has shown water flossers to be as effective, or even more effective, as string flossing in removing plaque.1
Regardless, most dentists agree that water flossers are a good option for those who have trouble flossing by hand due to a condition or the existence of dental work (like braces) that may make regular flossing difficult.
Water flosser top picks
Here are some top water flossers:
With a powerful engine and 10 different pressure settings, this corded model has a water tank that can hold enough to run for 90 seconds and a rotating tip to increase its ability to break down grime in between teeth. It costs about $75 on Amazon.
According to its positive reviews, users enjoyed the Power Flosser 7000’s quiet, sleek design and four stream settings (clean, deep clean, sensitive, and massage). Its long retractable cord and reservoir flip-lid also provide ease of use. It costs about $140 on Amazon.
Interdental brushes are small devices designed to scrub away bacteria and buildup between the teeth. They usually consist of bristles attached to a wire, and a handle is on the other side. Their length and design can vary.
Although there is more research on the use of floss than interdental brushes, at least one study has shown interdental brushing to be as effective as flossing.2 Many people find interdental brushes easier to use than floss.
Interdental brushes top picks
You can find interdental brushes in most drugstores and online. Here are some top choices:
These mint-flavored disposable brushes offer a flexible bending wire and a tapered design to get in between tight teeth. They’re also safe for braces and dental attachments. It costs about $20 for a pack of three 32-count bags on Amazon.
These eco-friendly interdental brushes are antimicrobial and made with a sustainable bamboo handle. They are available in Ultra Tight, Tight, Moderate, and Wide versions. These costs $6 for a pack of eight at Spotlight Oral Care.