Why do dentists recommend dental floss picks?

Flossing is an important oral hygiene practice that tends to clean the interdental spaces near the gum line that are inaccessible for toothbrush bristles. If the debris stuck between the teeth is left unremoved, it would mix with saliva and produce bacteria deposits called plaque. Floss once a day is helpful to prevent such sticky film substances.

Despite flossing wire is widely in use for this oral care routine. handling the wire is quite tedious for a few weeks. This is why some people feel flossing is hard and unpleasant. On the other hand, improper or aggressive usage of flossing strings will hurt the oral tissues.

For people who feel hard to floss, there are various alternatives like water flossers, interdental brushes, floss picks, etc. Here our dental hygienists have shared about floss picks.

What is meant by floss pick?

It is a D-shaped plastic tool that contains a handle and holds a piece of flossing thread connected between the 2 curved ends. As the appliance has a handle, you would not feel tangle while holding the flossing wire. Likewise, it comes in different sizes thereby dental floss picks with kids-friendly are also available.

Similar to an electric toothbrush, you can dispose of or refill the head of a floss pick. Nowadays, even battery-powered floss picks are also available.

How to floss with dental floss picks?

Unlike normal floss, you have to use a small piece of floss string in dental floss picks. So you should know the right technique to get into all the surfaces of your teeth. Here are the steps to follow while using floss picks:

• Place the floss string between the teeth and press it against the gums.
• Slide the pick front and back gently to remove the particles stuck between the teeth.
• Repeat the process for all of your teeth.
• Wash the dental floss pick thoroughly.

Are dental floss picks effective as traditional floss strings?

Many floss users question the efficiency of floss picks whilst thinking the picks are suitable for occasional flossing alone. It might arise due to the differences in flossing techniques. Moreover, flossing wires are in practice for many decades. However, many researchers show that there is no huge difference in the effectiveness of flossing strings and floss picks.

The main limitation of the dental floss pick is, it will be quickly frayed because you have to use a small piece of wire to clean the entire mouth. Luckily, you have options like disposable and refillable heads to address this issue.

Another advantage of the dental pick is, it is apt for people who have movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease, dystonia. It is because the user has to hold flossing wire around the middle fingers correctly else it will hurt the gum tissues. It means people with difficulty in movements cannot use traditional flossing. Right? So dental floss pick is the best choice for them

Want to know more about floss picks or other flossing string alternatives? Contact our dentists in Dr. Amarnathan’s Dental Care.