The 15 Best Floss Picks for a Healthy Smile

Best Overall

DenTek Triple Clean Floss Picks

$4 at Amazon $4 at Target $4 at Walgreens

Material: Floss, bioplastic | Number of picks in package: 20, 90, or 150

These picks tout the American Dental Association's Seal of Acceptance and are effective for removing plaque, preventing gingivitis, and removing even the toughest bits of hidden food stuck between the teeth. As an added benefit, each one has a fluoride coating for enamel protection and a minty flavor for a refreshing fresh-breath flossing session. They’re also super sturdy and won’t snap, given they double up as a tongue scraper as well. The micro-textured floss (meaning it grants a ribbed grip for more control) has a silky feel, making it especially easy to use between very tight teeth or if you have braces.

Best Dual-Lined

Plackers Twin-Line Flossers

$3 at Amazon $4 at Walmart

Material: Nylon floss, plastic | Number of picks in package: 75, 150, and 300

There are two strands of floss in this option, which is double the reassurance that it’ll help to remove every last bit of stuck food and plaque. They’re made to stretch rather than shred or snap, and we also appreciate that the pick is hidden inside the handle for easy maneuvering once flossing is in motion, so you don’t have to worry about poking yourself.

Best Natural

Bambo Earth Natural Dental Floss Picks

$15 at Amazon

Material: Floss, corn, and wheat straw | Number of picks in package: 200

Dr. Moldovan says that this eco-friendly option is one of her favorite floss picks. They’re made from a compostable combo of corn and wheat straw and are mint-flavored too. Even the exterior packaging is a kraft paper box that’s reusable and recyclable. These durable and natural flossing picks’ long handle allows us to reach our rear teeth comfortably as well. Just keep in mind that the ends can be very pointy, so be careful when reaching into the bag.

Best Natural, Runner-Up

The Humble Co. Natural Dental Floss Picks

$16 at Amazon $16 at Target View on Grove.co

Material: Nylon, cornstarch | Number of picks in package: 200

For those trying to minimize their plastic consumption, these flossing picks are an excellent choice. The eco-friendly option features a handle made from corn starch and nylon-based. The picks are housed in a paper package to further eliminate waste. We love that they are ergonomically smart for those with big hands and the fact that the double thread is capable of resisting tight teeth while effectively sloughing off debris and plaque. 

Best Value

Up&Up Floss Picks

$3 at Target

Material: Floss, plastic | Number of picks in package: 90, 160

A super affordable choice, these flossing picks are shred-resistant and come with a built-in pick on the handle that won’t poke you. The thread itself could be longer if you ask us, but still, it manages to glide gently within the narrow gaps of our teeth. They are a functional choice for flossing on the go, and get all the gunk out necessary for confident close-up in-person conversations. 

Best for Plaque

GUM Soft-Picks Advanced Dental Picks

$20 at Amazon $18 at Walmart $11 at Walgreens

Material: Synthetic rubber, plastic | Number of picks in package: 60, 90

Rather than featuring the traditional type of floss thread, these picks have flexible synthetic rubber bristles on the end. They work equally well in between teeth, the outer surface of teeth, and along the gum line. (All common areas where plaque tends to build up.) Dr. Moldovan is a fan, citing that they remove food and plaque and are recommended for people with gum disease or bleeding gums.

Best Flavor

Oral-B Complete Glide Dental Floss Picks

$27 at Amazon $7 at Target $8 at Walmart

Material: Floss, plastic | Number of picks in package: 75, 150

We especially love these for on-the-go use since they combine the benefits of a floss pick with the refreshing flavor of mouthwash (they’re infused with Scope Outlast). Plus, the floss itself is silky smooth, gliding easily back and forth between interdental spaces. These flossing picks are a bit fragile though and may snap during a flossing session. Because of this, you should ecpect to use up to two or three picks per oral care routine. 

Best Long-Handle

Tepe Angle Interdental Brushes

$7 at Walmart View on Tepeusa.com

Material: Plastic, plastic-coated wire | Number of picks in package: 6

“I prefer this floss pick because of the long handle that can reach in-between places that we can't usually get to in the back of our teeth,” says Dr. Molodvan of one of her top choices. Indeed, it’s more of a toothbrush slash floss pick hybrid, helping to remove food and break down plaque, especially in the gaps of the teeth. Each pack comes with a variety of brush lengths to comfortably reach the shape, size, and space in between your teeth, and gently clean away the concerns that contribute to gum inflammation and cavities.

Best Reusable

Quip Refillable Floss Pick

$20 at Nordstrom View on Quip $4 at Kohls.com

Material: Polyester floss, plastic | Number of picks in package: 1 reusable pick handle with 3-month supply of dispensable floss

If you want to reap the benefits of a floss pick but don’t love that they’re not the most sustainable, this is the ideal reusable alternative. The compact case (which features a convenient little mirror!) comes with a thick, easily controllable handle and a preloaded mint floss refill pod. Simply pop in a new piece of floss every time, and you’re good to go. One refill pod replaces 180 single-use plastic picks and each will last up to three months. Note that the case itself isn’t water resistant, so cleaning the case with warm water is the most extraneous type of upkeep involved. 

Best for Braces

Plackers Orthopick Flossers

$9 at Amazon $7 at Walmart

Material: Floss, plastic | Number of picks in package: 36

When you have braces or very tightly spaced teeth, you need a flosser that can get in between the grooves and arched wires to pick out debris. These picks have thin yet tough floss that slides between braces and your teeth, as well as a slim handle for a flexible grip and one that boasts the brand’s FlipPick feature. As a bonus, this pack comes with a travel pouch you can tote in your bag (or bookbag). Our only gripe is that the pack contains only 36 flossers; we’d love it if you could get more. 

Best Hands-Free

Gfloss Hands Free Dental Floss

$8 at Amazon View on Gfloss.com

Material: Plastic | Number of picks in package: 40

Hands-free flossing? Call it innovation. Though there's a bit of a learning curve with this method, once you get the hang of the floss you'll love using these tiny little gadgets at work or during those moments when you need to get that speck of food out of your teeth ASAP and you don’t have a mirror on hand. The floss thread is unflavored, and a particularly gentle option that still gets into all the nooks and crannies of the molars and teeth without cutting your tongue.

Best Handles

GumChucks Adult Starter Pack

$8 at Amazon View on Gumchucks.com

Material: Plastic | Number of picks in package: 10 flossing picks 

Traditional flossing picks have handles that can be hard to hold if you have big or unstable hands, leading to an uncomfortable poke in the inner cheeks. GumChucks flossing picks, on the other hand, feature two independent handles and a set of disposable flossing tips so that you’re actually in control of the entire flossing experience.

Best Charcoal

PUL Floss Picks

$9 at Amazon View on Thepultool.com

Material: Nylon | Number of picks in package: 50

Not only is it satisfying to visualize the gunk you’re getting out of your teeth, but these black charcoal-infused flossers make for a floss that is compatible with the teeth’s natural enamel. The nylon threads are doubled up for a durable floss in tight interdental spaces. Plus, the handle is biodegradable.

Best for Travel

Familife Dental Floss Picks

$14 at Amazon View on Familifecare.com

Material: Polymer scribed material | Number of picks in package: 60

While flossing picks are great on the go, have you ever stopped to think about how gross it is to use one that’s been in a handbag full of germs? Familife’s floss picks come in a perfect clear compact case that holds up to 60 picks, so you won’t have to worry about where to put them when you leave the house. The brand says they have mint flavor, but we found them to have little to no taste. Nevertheless, we appreciate that this is an organized, reliable option that keeps things sanitary and tucked away, preventing accidental finger pricks.

Best Splurge

Flaus Electric Flosser Starter Kit

View on Goflaus.com

Material: Tape floss | Number of picks in package: 45 floss heads

This electric flossing device emits sonic vibrations that mimic those of an electric toothbrush, targeting plaque head-on. The floss-assist motion comes with three speed options to adjust to your preferred comfort and elevate the concept of the classic flossing pick. While you will have to charge this flossing device, it has a battery life that can last up to two months.