After we printed our 2015 dental floss comparability article, we began by discussing the problem of wading via the overwhelming variety of floss choices on the cabinets.
You could recall that as we stared on the sea of decisions within the oral hygiene aisle, among the questions we contemplated have been:
- Ought to I get the dental tape, the fluffy stuff, or perhaps even the floss picks for teenagers with superheroes on them?
- Which one goes to take away essentially the most plaque from between my tooth?
- Which one goes to carry up and never shred on that one spot in my mouth the place floss all the time appears to snap?
Now 9 years later, we’ve completed plenty of analysis and launched our personal floss. So, we’re offering an up to date evaluation of varied floss choices. And sure, we’re going to be biased as a result of we predict that our OraWellness Superior Floss fills a singular area within the already-bloated floss market. (In the event you’d wish to learn the origin story of Superior Floss and its distinctive options, be happy to take a look at our article, “Why We Created Our Personal OraWellness Dental Floss.“)
With this second-edition dental floss comparability, we’re going to discover questions like:
- Does the floss include any useful design elements or elements to help oral well being?
- Are there any elements in/on the floss which are not supportive for oral (or whole-body) well being?
- How eco-friendly is the floss and/or its packaging?
However, earlier than we bounce into our evaluation, we’d wish to share some essential details about two particular floss elements.
Classes we discovered alongside the best way…
As you’ll be able to think about, there’s a LOT of analysis, forethought, and due diligence that goes into the method of making a brand new product.
Listed here are a few classes that we discovered through the two years of analysis and improvement that went into creating Superior Floss.
Vegetable Wax
Our floss manufacturing crew supplied to make use of a ‘vegetable wax’ as a vegan different to beeswax.
After we drilled down into the advantageous print, we discovered that one of many elements of ‘vegetable wax’ is hydrogenated oil. We gained’t create a product resolution with an ingredient that we really feel has no place going into our mouths. So, we stated a agency ‘no thanks’ to the vegetable wax, and our manufacturing crew went again to the drafting board.
We’d have launched our floss no less than six months earlier if we hadn’t found this element and reformulated, however the finish end result was well worth the wait. As you’ll see, we have been capable of finding another wax that’s nonetheless vegan, that doesn’t include any hydrogenated oils, and that has clear and easy elements.
Hydroxyapatite
Not all hydroxyapatites are the identical, and due to that, it’s essential to know what sort of hydroxyapatite is in any oral hygiene product. Some individuals within the well being and wellness sphere say nanoparticles are higher, and others say microparticles are higher. Finally, what issues is that every firm shares the ‘why’ behind its stance so that you just, the buyer, can select what product finest aligns together with your values.
At OraWellness, we’re firmly within the ‘microparticles are higher’ camp. We stand on the truth that the EU’s Scientific Committee on Shopper Security (SCCS) initially cited issues in 2021 about nano-hydroxyapatite’s genotoxic potential.
Later, they amended their stance barely to state that nano-hydroxyapatite with sure traits will be thought of protected when used as much as a particular focus threshold. We hesitate to depend on this up to date stance from the EU’s security fee. Why? We’re questioning:
- Who determines what that threshold for security is?
- How is that threshold decided?
Since one of many issues with nano-hydroxyapatite is its potential to trigger cell loss of life, we really feel that particulars like this matter. So, we’ve chosen to make use of the precautionary precept and keep away from nano-hydroxyapatite in all of our merchandise till we all know for sure that it’s protected for the entire physique over the long run. If you wish to take a deeper dive on why the particle dimension of hydroxyapatite is essential, be happy to take a look at our article, “Nano or No-No? Hydroxyapatite Particle Measurement Issues.”
Selecting which floss merchandise to research
We’ve discovered that the bigger, huge model firms merely aren’t on the slicing fringe of creating oral-health-supporting product options. That’s why we’re deliberately selecting to guage merchandise from smaller firms.
3 teams
We’re going to group the flosses into three foremost classes based mostly on their scores in our evaluation: ‘Wants Enchancment’, ‘Above Par’, and ‘Glorious.’
Standards
We’ll consider the entire flosses on this evaluation based mostly on the standards beneath. We hope you’ll discover it useful to see some side-by-side comparisons so you’ll be able to simply select the choices that really feel like the very best match for you.
Design Efficacy & Advantages/Dangers: On this class, we’ll handle the string design, how successfully it flosses our tooth, and the its benefits or drawbacks.
Components: On this class, we’ll spotlight what the floss has on/in it that could be helpful (or problematic). We’ll additionally name out whether or not or not the floss accommodates extra, unconventional elements to help higher oral well being.
Environmental Friendliness: Right here, we’ll discover the relative degree of sustainability of the floss product and packaging.
Price: It may be difficult to do a floss price comparability as a result of every possibility comes with a unique quantity of string on the spool or a unique amount of floss picks in a pack. So, to degree the taking part in discipline, we selected to guage the price per use (i.e., how a lot the product prices for every flossing session). Right here’s how:
- We outlined a ‘single use’ as both an 18-inch section of floss or a single floss choose.
- Then we calculated what number of single makes use of have been in every floss pack.
- Lastly, we divided every product’s value by its complete variety of single makes use of. That gave us the price per use.
Now that we’ve outlined the analysis standards, let’s check out our first group.
‘Wants Enchancment’ Group
The entire flosses on this class made their solution to the ‘backside of the pile’ for various causes that we’ll define beneath.
Primal Life Organics
Bamboo-Charcoal Dental Floss (Picks)
Design Efficacy & Advantages/Dangers: First off, we’re not followers of floss picks on the whole as a result of they are often tough on the gums. Second, floss picks stop us from utilizing a clear part of string between every new set of tooth. That makes it simpler to unfold health-undermining microbes from contaminated areas, to wholesome areas. It additionally makes it harder to trace which areas are exhibiting indicators of oral well being points and which of them aren’t. Lastly, as a result of this specific choose’s floss has charcoal on it, the string is black. That eliminates our capability to assemble essential details about the well being of our mouths whereas we’re flossing.
You possibly can be taught extra about these factors right here:
Components: Mild Pure Mint Oil, Charcoal Bamboo (floss), Corn Starch (plant-based deal with).
There’s no clarification about what ‘mild pure mint oil’ means. As well as, as you’ll see beneath, flosses as of late will be infused with plenty of different supportive elements. Sadly, this product doesn’t include some other elements to assist help oral well being. We even have a priority concerning the corn starch, which we’ll handle within the ‘Environmental Friendliness’ part.
Environmental Friendliness: A benefit of this product is that it’s a bamboo floss that’s packaged in a paperboard field. Additionally, the choose handles are comprised of corn starch, so they are going to readily compost. Nonetheless, from our analysis, we all know that these merchandise come out of China. So until the product is non-GMO licensed, we predict it’s prudent to imagine that something comprised of corn is from genetically modified corn.
Price: At $.43 per floss choose, this product has the costliest price per use on this checklist (by a big margin).
Total Evaluation: After we add up the factors that it is a floss choose, it has a black floss string, it lacks any extra useful elements, and it has a steep price per use, sadly, this floss has the very lowest rating on our checklist.
Boka Floss
Design Efficacy & Advantages/Dangers: Nothing fancy about this floss or its design.
Components: Pure Vegetable Wax, Mint [or Cinnamon] Taste.
The string is comprised of plastic, nevertheless it’s not clear precisely what sort of plastic it’s. Other than that, the elements are the questionable-at-best ‘vegetable wax’ and mint or cinnamon flavoring (with no point out of what they’re comprised of). In contrast to different choices farther down on this checklist, this floss accommodates no extra elements for supporting oral well being.
Environmental Friendliness: Possibly not eco-friendly in any respect. It’s plastic floss (with no point out of it being upcycled), and it’s packaged in a plastic container.
Price: $.10 per use.
Total Evaluation: On condition that it is a plastic floss with no thrilling qualities about it, it’s coated in ‘vegetable wax’, it’s in a plastic dispenser, and it prices ten cents per use, we simply can’t wrap our heads round how this floss could be any higher than the large title manufacturers that we might get for half the price.
‘Above Par’ Group
It’s not simple to dole out these grades. This class positively has some vary within the qualities of flosses which are showcased. In our opinion, every of the flosses beneath is on course. They’ve no less than some good qualities, however additionally they have some fairly apparent alternatives for enchancment.
Wellnesse Floss Picks
Design Efficacy & Advantages/Dangers: We’ve already shared that we’re not followers of floss picks. This model is barely improved as a result of the floss string isn’t black, so we will no less than see some aware flossing clues on it. However, once more, the choose doesn’t have sufficient string to permit us to make use of a clear part between every new set of tooth. So, it doesn’t assist us work out which areas are impacted by the aware flossing clues that we’re discovering, and it dangers spreading health-undermining microbes from an contaminated space, to a wholesome one.
Components: 100% Corn Starch Deal with, recyclable UHMWPE [Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene] Floss Thread.
The corn starch deal with is probably going from GMO corn, and we don’t see any added elements to assist the floss help higher oral well being.
Environmental Friendliness: It’s cool that the floss string will be faraway from the choose and recycled, and the deal with will be processed at a compost heart. Nonetheless, once more, the handles are comprised of corn starch, and we’ve got actual issues about utilizing corn-based merchandise that aren’t licensed non-GMO.
Price: $.16 per use.
Total Evaluation: In the event you’re inclined to make use of a floss choose, we really feel this one is the higher alternative as a result of the floss is white and it’s lower than half the price of the opposite comparable product on this evaluation.
Cocofloss
Design Efficacy & Advantages/Dangers: This floss is a greater design as a result of it’s a woven, yarn-like string, which has been confirmed to take away extra plaque.
Components: Polyester Filaments (made from 85% recycled polyester from plastic water bottles) infused with Microcrystalline Wax, Coconut Oil, Important Oils, and Meals-Grade Aromas.
This firm’s huge splash is that they embrace coconut oil on the floss, and relying on the flavour, the floss string may additionally be infused with important oils (quite than simply flavors). Though they may nonetheless add extra oral-health-supporting elements, the coconut oil and doable important oils are good beginning factors. Nonetheless, they don’t disclose what the ‘microcrystalline wax’ on their floss is made from. 🙁
Environmental Friendliness: Their floss string is comprised of 85% recycled plastic. We’re undecided why they didn’t go for 100% recycled plastic like the opposite flosses beneath have completed. Sadly, this floss has a plastic dispenser (however no less than it may be refilled).
Price: $.16 per use.
Total Evaluation: Cocofloss has some issues going for it (coconut oil on the floss and utilizing a woven string design). However it’s in a plastic dispenser, it might use a few additional oral-health-supporting elements, and it has the second costliest price per use on this evaluation. So, we predict it positively has room for enchancment.
Chunk Floss
Design Efficacy & Advantages/Dangers: Nothing noteworthy to report concerning the design of the floss string.
Components: 100% Plant-Primarily based PLA, Candelilla Wax.
Additionally nothing a lot right here, since there aren’t any important oils or different useful elements. There’s no ambiguous ‘vegetable wax’, however candelilla wax does additionally give us pause (extra on this within the ‘Total Evaluation’ part).
Environmental Friendliness: We discover Chunk’s floss fascinating as a result of it’s the one possibility on this evaluation comprised of polylactic acid (PLA). This plastic composts actually simply. One other cool function is the dispenser, which is glass with a steel lid.
Price: $.09 per use.
Total Evaluation: Whereas the floss itself isn’t something fancy to jot down house about, kudos to this firm for actually making an attempt to make the floss way more eco-friendly. We expect they may enhance this providing by including some useful elements to the floss, however we surprise if maybe they aren’t ready so as to add something due how simply PLA degrades. Additionally, a downside that we briefly talked about within the ‘Components’ part is that it consists of candelilla wax. After we researched totally different wax choices, we discovered that candelilla wax is harvested from a doubtlessly at-risk plant, and it’s frequent for the wild harvesting to be completed in an unethical method.
RiseWell Scrubby Floss
Design Efficacy & Advantages/Dangers: Woven polyester floss string that’s higher for eradicating plaque.
Components: Vegan Wax, Hydroxyapatite, Spearmint Oil, Xylitol, Stevia, Polyester Filament.
This floss is admittedly coming ahead by together with spearmint oil (no disclosure if it’s natural), xylitol (no disclosure if it’s non-GMO), and hydroxyapatite (no disclosure whether or not it’s nanoparticles or microparticles). All in all, it is a huge step ahead. Sadly, their ‘vegan wax’ ingredient ends on a little bit of a flat be aware since we don’t know what it’s made from, and it’s more than likely the dreaded ‘vegetable wax’ that we talked about above.
Environmental Friendliness: The dispenser is plastic. Additionally, there’s no details about whether or not or not the polyester floss filament is sourced from recycled plastic.
Price: $.12 per use.
Total Evaluation: RiseWell has completed a pleasant job incorporating some good elements into the floss. As well as, their woven string design alternative is simpler than non-woven floss for cleansing between tooth.
Wellnesse Silk Floss
Design Efficacy & Advantages/Dangers: Normally, silk flosses should not our favourite. Whereas we love the concept of silk floss, we’ve discovered that it simply doesn’t appear to take away plaque in addition to the woven floss design. One other concern we’ve got about silk floss is that it tends to be very skinny, and tremendous skinny flosses can enhance our threat of unintentionally injuring/slicing into our gums as we use them.
Components: 100% Pure Silk, Candelilla Wax, Important Peppermint Oil.
Observe that silk shouldn’t be a vegan-friendly possibility. For the peppermint oil, the corporate doesn’t state if it’s natural. There’s no point out of whether or not or not the candelilla wax was ethically harvested.
Environmental Friendliness: Between the silk floss and the paperboard packaging, that is very eco-friendly.
Price: $.11 per use.
Total Evaluation: All in all, this floss is a reasonably good selection if you happen to’re searching for a silk string possibility. It might doubtlessly be improved by including some extra useful elements and/or by swapping out the candelilla wax for a unique possibility.
‘Glorious’ Group
There are a handful of floss options that stand above the remaining as a result of their scores within the 4 classes that we’re utilizing for this evaluation. It’s no shock that every of the flosses on this group are from extra established firms which were innovating within the oral well being area of interest for greater than a decade.
Eco-Dent Mild Floss
Design Efficacy & Advantages/Dangers: Eco-Dent floss has gotten thinner since we first began recommending it a few years in the past. This isn’t a plus for us as a result of we discover it may be a little bit harsh on our gums (and fingers).
Components:
Mint & Cinnamon flavors: Jojoba Seed Oil, Candelilla Wax, Rice Bran Oil, Rice Bran Wax, For Mint Floss Choice Solely: Menthol, Peppermint Oil / For Cinnamon Floss Choice Solely: Cinnamon Leaf Oil, Anethole, Orange Oil, Lemon Peel Oil, Fennel Oil, Anise Oil, Geranium Flower Oil, Bergamot Fruit Oil, Lavender Oil, Rosemary Leaf Oil, Basil Oil, Rose Flower Oil.
Cranberry-Aloe taste: Cranberry Fruit Juice Focus, Rice Bran Wax, Candelilla Wax, Rice Bran Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Aloe Vera Leaf Juice (Decolorized), Fennel Oil, Geranium Flower Oil, Anethole.
The Mint and Cinnamon flavors include loads of important oils for serving to to help oral well being, and the Cranberry-Aloe taste accommodates some important oils, too. All of those floss choices seem to have rice and candelilla wax coatings.
Environmental Friendliness: The string is made from plastic, however the packaging is made from paperboard. (We’re undecided, however they may have been the primary firm to make use of paperboard packaging for floss!).
Price: $.03 per use.
Total Evaluation: Like among the different choices we mentioned above, it consists of candelilla wax, however we don’t know if it’s ethically harvested. It doesn’t have a woven string design, and it’s a little bit too skinny for our private choice. Nonetheless, we included Eco-Dent on this ‘Glorious’ floss group as a result of it accommodates important oils, and you’ll’t beat the worth. At $.03 per use, it’s lower than half the price per use of the others on this top-shelf group. Total, it’s a really economical possibility if you happen to like skinny floss.
Dr. Tung’s Sensible Floss
Design Efficacy & Advantages/Dangers: The string is the yarn-like, woven polyester filament design. The corporate states that the fabric is freed from PFAS (aka ‘endlessly chemical compounds’).
Components: Cardamom Important Oil, Vegetable/Beeswax Mix (Beeswax plus Candelilla, Carnauba, Castor Oil, and/or Rice Bran Wax).
We like that this firm discloses what their wax is comprised of.
Environmental Friendliness: Dr. Tung’s has not too long ago improved their (beforehand plastic) dispenser, taking this practical floss up a notch so far as its eco-friendliness. The packaging is now comprised of plastic-free recycled paperboard.
Price: $.08 per use.
Total Evaluation: We actually recognize Dr. Tung’s Sensible Floss. In actual fact, this had been our ‘go-to’ thicker floss for years (till we launched our personal). It’s a great practical floss, with good packaging, with a great price per use. However, it does embrace candelilla wax, and as soon as once more, we don’t know if it’s ethically harvested.
Radius Silk Floss
Design Efficacy & Advantages/Dangers: Once more, silk flosses are typically so skinny that they’re at a better threat of damaging our gums, they usually may additionally snag and/or break extra simply than their thicker counterparts. As well as, they have a tendency to not work as effectively for ‘grabbing’ plaque.
Components: Pure Silk Thread, Natural Carnauba Wax.
No important oils or different helpful elements.
Environmental Friendliness: As a result of it’s a pure product, silk floss could be very eco-friendly. That is packaged in a pleasant paperboard dispenser.
Price: $.07 per use.
Total Evaluation: This can be a nice possibility for anybody who’s searching for silk floss. It’s our high choose for a silk floss as a result of it makes use of a extra sustainable wax, and the price per use is considerably cheaper than different silk flosses available on the market.
OraWellness Superior Floss
Design Efficacy & Advantages/Dangers: It has a woven, yarn-like floss string design that’s been confirmed to take away as much as 44% extra plaque than different floss designs. Additionally, because it’s a thicker floss, it’s way more mild in your gums (and fingers!).
Components: Recycled Polyester String (from post-consumption plastic bottles); Sunflower Seed Wax; Olive Oil; Lacquer Tree Wax; Sal Tree Resin; Vegan & Non-Nano Hydroxyapatite; Non-GMO Xylitol; Natural Important Oils of: Peppermint, Cinnamon, & Clove; Natural Spearmint Aroma.
We selected to coat our floss with a number of supportive elements, together with:
- A mix of natural important oils (plus natural spearmint aroma) that creates a warming/cooling steadiness just like our HealThy Mouth Mix. Right here’s an essential distinction: this floss is the one one with natural important oils.
- Hydroxyapatite to help remineralization. We use micro-sized hydroxyapatite as a way to keep away from the potential dangers related to utilizing nano-hydroxyapatite. And, the micro-hydroxyapatite that we selected for our floss is a mined product, so it’s vegan pleasant.
- Non-GMO xylitol to work synergistically with the hydroxyapatite and increase remineralization. Superior Floss is the one floss possibility we’ve seen up to now that mentions that the xylitol is non-GMO.
Additionally, as a substitute of the frequent (and obscure) ‘vegetable wax’ ingredient that accommodates hydrogenated oils, we selected a safer, still-vegan-friendly mixture of olive oil, sunflower seed wax, sal tree resin, and lacquer tree wax.
Environmental Friendliness: The woven floss is plastic (made from 100% recycled polyester from plastic water bottles) that’s freed from PTFE and PFAS. The dispenser is paperboard. Even the little ‘plastic’ floss spool bag contained in the paperboard dispenser is comprised of plant cellulose, which is compostable.
Price: $.08 per use for a single spool. Nonetheless, we provide a ‘purchase 3, get 1 free’ bundle, and selecting that possibility brings the price right down to solely $.06 per use.
Total Evaluation: Once you mix the higher design for eradicating plaque, the quantity and high quality of helpful elements that we added to the floss, and the price per use, you would possibly see why we’re so thrilled with our Superior Floss. We’re very proud to have the ability to supply a better high quality floss at a cheaper price than most of the choices supplied by different small firms like us.
What do of us take into consideration Superior Floss?
Don’t take our phrase for it. Listed here are just some of the numerous 5-star critiques we’ve already obtained from our joyful clients.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Greatest Floss within the World!
“That is the very best floss on the earth! It’s rightly named “superior”. I couldn’t be happier with this product or its efficiency. My tooth really feel hygienist-cleaned every night time after utilizing it.”
– Kathleen Y. from Montana
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Superior floss
“Positively really feel Superior Floss is superior to any retailer model floss we’ve got tried. It was extraordinarily thorough at eradicating gunk from between the tooth. Gentle but sturdy with a great mouth really feel and taste.”
– Holly R. from New Hampshire
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The Excellent Floss!!
“I’ve looked for the floss of my goals for a variety of years—and now I’ve discovered it! Needed to kiss a variety of frog flosses alongside the best way, each getting a bit nearer—Superior Floss is DA BOMB! What’s to not like a few floss that expands, is fluffy, is infused with 2 teeth-remineralizing elements and a pair of microbiome-balancing important oils, is eco-friendly comprised of recycled elements, and accommodates 40 meters! Plus its comfort issue and small dimension is way more travel-friendly than a much-larger water flosser that requires electrical energy and water (assume workplace, tenting / different outside leisure actions, rehab facility after hip alternative, anytime you’ll want to floss away from house). It’s as much as you to grasp the proper flossing approach however as an oral hygiene instrument, Superior Floss beats all of the others. Thanks OraWellness!”
– Barbara Okay. from Indiana
Discovering the fitting floss for you…
On the finish of the day, what issues is that you just discover a floss that you just’ll use. To assist with discovering the fitting floss, mirror in your priorities.
If environmental friendliness is extra essential than elements, then a silk floss could also be your best choice.
If operate is extra essential to you, go along with one of many woven, yarn-like floss options.
And if you happen to really feel that having useful elements like hydroxyapatite, xylitol, and important oils is essential, then it’s possible you’ll favor one of many options that has gone the additional mile to incorporate these of their floss.
After all, getting a great worth for our cash is essential to every of us. OraWellness merchandise aren’t the most affordable oral hygiene merchandise available on the market, however because you’re following us, we already know that you just prioritize high quality over price.
All alongside the Superior Floss creation course of, we had the intention to create a floss resolution with a greater design, with low environmental affect, with loads of high quality elements, and at a value that will compete with main manufacturers. We’re pleased with our creation, and we’re grateful that so many purchasers have already instructed us that OraWellness Superior Floss is the very best floss they’ve ever used (by far).
Useful, associated assets:
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