From the very first trip to the dentist, we’re told about the importance of flossing to maintain proper oral hygiene.
As kids, the concept of cleaning teeth with string seemed slightly bizarre. Yet time and time again, we’re advised by dentists and hygienists to floss regularly to prevent nasty conditions like gum disease.
We spoke to Biological Dentist Dr Seb Lomas from the Wonder of Wellness clinic for further insight into dental floss.
What are the benefits of flossing?
“From a very foundational point of view, teeth mostly are self-cleansing through biting and chewing. Tongue action removes food and debris from around the oral cavity. But food and plaque builds up around the gum line, between teeth, and in places that a toothbrush does not reach. This is where floss and interdental brushes come in.
“Flossing, or as I call it interdental cleaning, is really effective for removing the food and debris to prevent inflammation of the gums which then can lead to gum disease and loss of teeth. Nowadays, research is coming to suggest how leaky gums or bacteria from the mouth getting into the body can lead as much scarier things, like cardiovascular disease and even Alzheimer’s.
“So, when the microbiome in your mouth is unregulated, or there’s harmful bacteria present, the inflammation and the endotoxin that could get in through leaky gums goes into the blood and is going to cause an inflammatory reaction to remove it.”
What is the proper way to use dental floss?
“In my opinion, flossing between the two canine teeth at the front of the mouth is where it's most effective. Flossing in your premolars to your molars is not as effective as using interdental brushes. Always floss before brushing, that way the debris that you removed isn’t going to get stuck again.”
How often should you floss?
“For someone that doesn't have gum disease, or anything else going on, just once a day is fine. I floss before bed. That's the most important, as you’ve been eating food all day. But if someone's gone to the hygienist and they’ve been told they have gum disease or periodontitis, you’ll likely want to be flossing twice a day until it's stabilised.”
What are the most important ways to maintain oral health?
“My top tip relates to the environment created in your mouth. In the same way that we’ve been talking about gut health, we want to have good prebiotics for the mouth. I have prebiotic mints which are great at removing the bugs which cause gum disease and replacing them with positive ones. I have one of those every day.
“My other favourite tool is a red and blue light toothbrush. They are actually effective in causing Photobiomodulation, which reduces inflammation in the gums, and the blue light kills off the bad bugs.”
What are some myths surrounding flossing that you’d like to debunk?
“Some floss contains amounts of BPA plastic, which is not ideal. Using this kind of floss risks disrupting your hormone endocrine system.
“In addition, flossing can sometimes cause damage when not done correctly. If patients are pressing too hard and jamming floss straight into the gums, it’s going to cause inflammation. When there’s inflammation in the body, bacteria can build up in those pockets. I definitely believe flossing is a good thing to do, but mainly between the front canines. Then, use interdental brushes for the teeth at the back.”
Do you have a favourite dental floss or flossing tool?
“I use silk floss three times a week, and a Waterpik every night.”
We’ve curated a selection of the best dental floss to buy in the UK. Keep scrolling for healthy gums and an even healthier smile.
Shop now
Wellnesse Biodegradable Silk Floss
Not only is Wellnesse’s innovative biodegradable silk floss good for the environment, but it’s good for your body too.
Imbued with pure peppermint oil for minty freshness, all 33 yards of this supremely luxurious floss is made from pure silk and is coated with candelilla wax for that easy glide feeling. Not only does the addition of peppermint oil help provide great taste, but it also has natural antimicrobial and antiviral properties.
Buy now £5.95, Healf
Flon Natural Silk Dental Floss
Made from Ahimsa Silk, two of these natural dental flosses equates to a whopping 30 metres of lean, mean cleaning power.
A zero-waste option coated in Candelilla wax for extra smoothness and peppermint oil for a fresh feel, Flon’s floss generates significant bang for your buck.
Buy now £7.19, Amazon
Oral-B Satin Tape Dental Floss Mint 25m
Oral-B’s silky, ribbon-like floss is a winning option for first-time, anxious flossers. Its gentle composition makes wrapping it around fingers comfortable, and flossing in those hard-to-reach places a breeze. The two-layered design helps to remove plaque and debris with ease, and the floss is flavoured with a cooling mint.
Buy now £2.01, Boots
TePe Oral Health Care, Interdental Brush, Mixed Pack, 8 Pieces
Interested in using interdental flossers, but not sure where to start? TePe offers a mixed pack of eight flossers to help you decide which size best suits your needs. Each tool features an ergonomically shaped handle and the pack comes with a handy, hygienic lid for travelling.
Buy now £4.69, Amazon
Beechwood Interdental 6 Brushes - ISO 2 (0.5mm)
These incredibly chic interdental brushes are designed for medium-sized gaps. The handle is made from sustainable FSC Beechwood which can be composted at home. For every tree cut down to create these brushes, another is planted, and excess material is used to help heat the factory where they are manufactured. What’s more, the gentle BPA-free nylon bristles can enter the gaps in your teeth without causing inflammation.
Buy now £5.90, Georganics
Cocofloss
Dentist-designed and frankly delicious, Cocofloss offers textured floss that is woven with 500+ grime-fighting fibres for an unbeatable clean. Naturally scented with either coconut, strawberry, orange or mint, this selection box includes all four options in an adorable miniature size for brilliant portability. The floss is eco-friendly, cruelty-free and makes use of safe, natural ingredients including cleansing coconut oil. Each flavour contains aromatic fruit oils and a light coating of vegan wax.
Buy now £25.00, Amazon
Slate Electric Flosser
Save plastic floss picks from landfills with this innovative electric flosser by Slate. The three-in-one device doesn’t require any water and makes use of extra-strong, vibrating multi-use floss heads complete with gum-sweeping bristles. The third and final brilliant part of these multi-use floss heads is the three-blade tongue scraper to banish odour and bacteria. A starter kit includes five floss heads and two AA batteries.
Buy now £119.60, Amazon
Ultrasonic Tooth Cleaner
Designed to help remove staining, plaque and tartar, the Ultrasonic Tooth Cleaner uses vibrational technology to deliver a deep clean. Available in a variety of chic colourways, the portable and durable device vibrates up to 12,000 times per minute to provide a dentist-level clean through the power of high frequency.
Buy now £24.99, Smile Therapy
Waterpik Whitening Water Flosser WF-06
For a professional-grade yet affordable water flosser, look no further than the WF-06 from none other than Waterpik. Designed to improve the natural whiteness of your teeth in as little as four weeks, the set comes with 30 whitening tablets which you simply pop into the water reservoir and let dissolve before embarking on a deep clean.
The largest continual-use capacity reservoir we’ve come across, the WF-06 allows for up to 90 seconds of continual cleaning. With a whopping 10 settings and four interchangeable tips included, this brilliant machine delivers all the clinical benefits of water flossing and more.
Buy now £49.99, Boots
Friendly Floss
Brilliantly ecological and aesthetically pleasing, Friendly Floss is a sustainable manual flossing system that is designed to be used with your favourite floss. Thanks to the four different ways with which the floss can be woven through the food-grade and dishwasher-safe stainless steel pick, you’ll be using far less floss than is usually required to achieve a taut clean.
Buy now £15.99, Etsy
