The best dental floss for braces inis waxed floss or orthodontic floss with threader tools, as they slide easily under wires without shredding. Water flossers are also highly effective alternatives that can reach around brackets and wires more efficiently than traditional string floss.
Key Points:
Waxed floss prevents shredding and catches on metal brackets less than unwaxed varieties
Floss threaders or pre-threaded floss picks make it easier to navigate around orthodontic hardware
Water flossers remove up to 99% of plaque and are recommended by orthodontists for braces wearers
If you are wearing braces, you already know that maintaining a clean mouth presents a unique set of challenges. The brackets and wires, while working hard to straighten your smile, create countless tiny hiding spots for food particles and plaque, making traditional dental care—especially flossing—incredibly difficult.
Effective flossing is not just important; it’s critical when you have orthodontics. Skipping this step significantly increases your risk of cavities, gum inflammation (gingivitis), and white spots forming around your brackets.
This guide is dedicated to helping you find the best dental floss for braces. We’ll focus on specialized tools and techniques—from innovative threaders and super floss to water flossers—designed to navigate the metal work, thoroughly clean every surface, and protect your gums throughout your orthodontic journey. Get ready to simplify your routine and keep your smile healthy and bright from start to finish!
1. The Best Daily Power Tool: Water Flossers
Water flossers (like the Waterpik) are universally recommended by orthodontists because they are the fastest, easiest, and most effective way to clean around the complex hardware of braces.
Benefit for Braces: They use a pressurized stream of water to flush out plaque and food debris from hard-to-reach areas—specifically, under the archwires and around the brackets—in a way that string floss cannot replicate.
Key Advantage: Using a water flosser is about 5 times faster than manual flossing and significantly reduces plaque and gingivitis in patients with braces.
What to Look For: Choose a model that includes an Orthodontic Tip. This tip usually has a small, tapered brush on the end to gently scrub the bracket surface while the water pulses and flushes the area simultaneously.
Best For: Everyday, after-meal cleaning, and ensuring deep cleaning around all orthodontic components.
Best selling Water flossers:
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2. The Best All-in-One String Floss: Oral-B Superfloss
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If you prefer a manual, physical scrubbing action, Superfloss is the gold standard because it combines three essential functions into one pre-cut strand.
Benefit for Braces: It eliminates the need to use a separate plastic threader, speeding up the process considerably while ensuring you get a thorough scrub.
The Three Sections:
Stiff Threader End: Rigid enough to easily slide under the archwire.
Spongy Floss: Thick, fuzzy, and soft, which is perfect for scrubbing plaque off the surface of the brackets and cleaning wider spaces.
Regular Floss: For cleaning the typical tight spaces between teeth.
Key Advantage: It offers a physical, abrasive clean that some users prefer, all contained in one product.
Best For: Detailed, once-a-day cleaning for those who trust the physical scrubbing of string floss.
3. The Best Manual Flossing Aid: Generic Floss Threaders
These small, affordable plastic loops are indispensable if you want to use your preferred regular dental floss (like your favorite brand of waxed floss).
Benefit for Braces: The threader acts like a large, rigid needle that guides any type of floss under the archwire. Once the floss is under the wire, you can floss the space between the teeth normally.
Key Advantage:Affordability and Versatility. You can buy a large pack cheaply and use them with any high-quality, waxed floss on the market.
What to Look For: Ensure they are rigid enough that they do not collapse when trying to push them under the wire. Always use waxed floss with threaders to prevent shredding against the braces.
Best For: Budget-conscious users, or those who want the freedom to choose any specific type of floss.
Best selling Dental Floss for Braces:
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Final Recommendation
For patients with braces, the Water Flosser provides the greatest benefit in terms of speed and comprehensive debris removal. Combining it with Oral-B Superfloss once daily ensures you cover both the power flushing and the physical scrubbing required for optimal oral health while in braces.
Dental Floss for Braces – Buying Guide
Flossing when you have braces is arguably the single most challenging part of oral hygiene, but it’s essential for preventing cavities and gum disease around the brackets.
The standard “string” floss is often insufficient or too difficult to maneuver. The market has developed several specialized tools to make this process easier and more effective.
Here is a breakdown of the best dental floss and devices for people with braces, focusing on tools that simplify navigating wires and brackets.
The Best Tools for Flossing with Braces
When flossing with braces, you need to clean two main areas: between the teeth (interproximal) and under the archwire and around the bracket.
1. The Essential Tool: Floss Threaders
What they are: These are simple, inexpensive plastic loops or semi-rigid pieces of nylon that look like large needles. They act as a guide to pull regular dental floss under the main archwire.
How they help with braces:
Access: They are the gold standard for getting regular flossunder the archwire. You simply thread the floss through the loop, push the threader under the wire, and then pull the floss through to floss the teeth normally.
Affordability: They are very cheap and come in large packs, making them easy to replace if lost.
Best Use Case: When you want to use the high-quality, plaque-removing floss you already trust, but need help navigating the wires.
2. The Power Tool: Water Flossers (Water Picks)
What they are: Devices like the Waterpik use a pressurized stream of water to blast away plaque, food debris, and bacteria from hard-to-reach areas.
How they help with braces:
Speed and Efficiency: They are by far the fastest and easiest way to clean around the brackets and under the archwire. The water stream can easily clean all surfaces where food and plaque collect.
Superior Debris Removal: They are highly effective at flushing out food particles that get lodged between the teeth and the braces, which string floss often can’t reach.
Gum Health: The pulsing water also massages the gums, which is beneficial since braces can cause temporary gum inflammation.
Best Use Case: For everyday, quick, and comprehensive cleaning, especially for removing food after meals and significantly reducing plaque buildup around every component of the braces.
3. The Hybrid Tool: Superfloss
What it is: A specialized type of floss that combines three unique sections into one strand:
Stiff Threader End: A rigid piece to thread under the archwire without needing a separate plastic threader.
Spongy Floss: A thick, soft, braided section perfect for effectively cleaning around brackets and wide gaps.
Regular Floss: A standard section for cleaning tighter spaces between teeth.
How it helps with braces:
All-in-One: It eliminates the need for a separate threader tool, simplifying the process.
Thicker Cleaning: The spongy section is particularly good for scrubbing plaque from the surfaces of the brackets and the larger spaces under the archwire.
Best Use Case: For users who prefer a physical scrubbing action over water, but want a dedicated, simplified threader built into the floss itself.
Key Takeaway for Braces
If you are currently wearing braces, investing in a Water Flosser is highly recommended as it makes the daily cleaning process significantly faster and more thorough than any manual method. However, combining it with a Floss Threader and regular floss once a day ensures you get the crucial physical friction needed for tough plaque between the teeth.
How to Choose the Best Dental Floss for Braces
When selecting a flossing method for braces, your choice should be based on three factors: Ease of Use, Effectiveness, and Speed.
Step 1: Decide on Your Primary Method
The first decision is between manual string flossing (with aid) and automatic water flossing.
Method
Key Benefit for Braces
A. Automatic Water Flosser (Waterpik, etc.)
Speed, debris removal, and deep cleaning under the wires and around the brackets. Best for: Comprehensive daily cleaning, removing food after meals.
B. Manual (All-in-One) Superfloss (or similar pre-cut strands)
Convenience and superior plaque-scrubbing power around hardware. Best for: Users who prefer a physical scrubbing action and an easy threading system.
C. Manual (Traditional) Floss Threaders + Regular Floss
Affordability and allowing the use of your preferred regular floss. Best for: Budget-conscious users and those who don’t mind the two-step process.
Step 2: Evaluating the Manual Options (Floss and Threaders)
If you stick with string, consider the following criteria:
1. The Right Floss Material
Waxed Floss: Always choose waxed floss. Unwaxed floss is much more likely to shred, fray, and get caught on brackets or rough spots on your wires, turning a simple task into a frustrating mess.
Thick/Spongy Floss: Look for brands that offer spongy or braided sections (like Superfloss). This material is thicker and does a much better job of hugging and scrubbing plaque off the curved surfaces of the wire and bracket.
2. Ease of Threading
Floss Threaders: If you use regular floss, the threader must have a firm, rigid end to push the floss under the archwire smoothly. A floppy threader will bend and make the job harder.
Built-in Threader (Superfloss): Ensure the stiff end is robust enough to push through tight spaces without breaking. This is a game-changer for simplifying the process, as you only handle one item.
Step 3: Considering a Water Flosser
For most orthodontists and patients, the Water Flosser is the most effective tool. When choosing one, look for:
Orthodontic Tip: Most major brands (like Waterpik) offer a specific tip that has a tiny brush on the end. This allows you to simultaneously scrub the bracket surface while flushing out debris with water.
Pressure Settings: Ensure the flosser has variable pressure settings. Start with a low setting to get used to the sensation and increase the pressure as your gums adjust.
Portability vs. Reservoir Size: If you plan to travel, consider a cordless, portable model. If it stays in one spot, a large countertop model is better, as it won’t require frequent refilling.
The Final Recommendation
For maximum effectiveness, the best choice is a combination approach: A Water Flosser for daily, quick, and comprehensive debris removal, supplemented by Superfloss or Floss Threaders for a detailed, physical scrub once a day, particularly along the gumline.
Dr. Tom Bell has a PhD in Medical Anthropology. He has a keen interest in oral health topics and is the founder of dentalrave. He has been an oral health researcher and electric toothbrush enthusiast for over 10 years. Tom works with Awin and others in his research. When not talking about dental hygiene and gadgets, Tom likes spending time outdoors hiking.
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