Waxed or Unwaxed Floss

Which is better for daily flossing? 

If you’re reading this at all, you probably care about flossing your teeth. Flossing is regarded by the Academy of General Dentistry as the single best way to fight plaque—it gets into the spaces that toothbrushes and mouthwashes can’t. 

Here are a few flossing pointers, regardless of which floss you use: 

• Use a string of floss about the length of your arm. 
• Wrap about six inches of the floss around your index finger. Hold the rest between the thumb and forefinger of your other hand. 
• Be careful not to snap the floss between your teeth. This can damage the gums. 
• When the floss is between the teeth, curve the floss around each tooth.  
• Slide the floss gently underneath the gums before moving on to the next gap. 
• As you move from space to space, use a new portion of the floss. This prevents you from putting bacteria you just removed back in your mouth. 

The most important trait of dental floss is that people use it regularly, regardless of what kind of floss it is. Flossing removes plaque, brightens teeth, helps control bad breath, preserves gums, and improves overall health. The first three may be obvious, but how does it improve overall health? Certain conditions, such as HIV/AIDS, can cause the gums to swell or bleed, and flossing gives you a good chance to examine your gums closely each day.  

Now that you’ve got the basics of flossing, let’s look at the difference between waxed and unwaxed floss. 

Waxed Floss 

According to this study from the journal of Periodontology, about 78% of people preferred waxed floss over unwaxed. This is good to keep in mind if you don’t like flossing, as people reported that waxed dental floss was easier to use. The glossy, slick texture of waxed floss made it feel easier for people to slide between their teeth.  

Waxed floss is also beneficial to people wearing braces. In particular, those with braces should use a floss threader. A floss threader is the device that looks like a two-pronged fork with a little piece of floss suspended between the ends of the fork tines. Yes! Most of us have used those before. Some floss threaders resemble little loops of floss with two long ends stuck together. 

Waxed floss threaders can slide between the teeth without interfering with the wiring of the braces. Unwaxed floss can sometimes catch on dental braces. 

Unwaxed Floss 

Unwaxed floss isn’t slick but it is thinner, so some people reported liking it more. Interestingly enough, if the gap between the teeth was very narrow, most people preferred waxed floss, because it could slide between the teeth with less pressure. 

As the unwaxed floss is actually smaller, however, people with wider gaps between their teeth tended to like it more. Unwaxed floss also has a tendency to make squeaking sounds as it scrapes back and forth between the teeth. When the squeaking happens, it indicates that plaque has been removed. This audio cue might be another reason that some people prefer unwaxed dental floss. 

Want to Take the Best Care Possible of your Teeth? 

There are three things you should do if you want to keep your teeth for a lifetime: 

1) Brush your teeth every day. Use an ADA (American Dental Association) certified toothpaste and brush at least twice a day. Make sure you always brush before bed, and when you wake up. If you are a go-getter, do it after lunch too. 

2) Floss every day as well. It’s best to floss in the evening, before bed. This gets out particles of food and bacteria that will continue to grow and develop while you sleep. 

3) Visit your dentist regularly. Schedule a professional check-up and cleaning at least twice a year. If you are in need of a dentist, we’ve got the best for you. Josey Lane Dentistry is a full-service dental office in Carrollton, Texas. We offer dental services for the whole family, and a wealth of knowledge. Contact us today to learn how to keep your teeth as healthy as possible on a day-to-day basis!