Best Floss for Braces 2024

These are my recommendations for the best floss for braces 2024.

Being a dentist, and also wearing braces myself, I know first hand the challenges of keeping your teeth clean once you wear a fixed orthodontic appliance.

I mean having 28 metal brackets attached to your teeth, with multiple wires, springs and rubber bands, means navigating your brush around you mouth isn’t as easy as it used to be.

Interdental cleaning is an important part of your oral hygiene regime if you have braces, and flossing is key to keeping your gums healthy.

I’ve put together this guide on the best floss for braces.

I’ll explain why the methods you used before won’t work anymore, and also look at some alternatives to floss such as water flossers and mini brushes.

Do I NEED to floss when I have braces?

Yep! Toothbrushes don’t get to all the surfaces when cleaning your teeth, and when you wear braces you are more restricted in the areas you can get to because of the brackets and wires. You get so much more food and bacteria trapped around braces, so flossing is essential to keep your teeth clean and healthy.

What happens if I don’t floss?

You are more likely to get tooth decay when you have braces. This would mean needing to have further dental work such as fillings.

If you don’t clean around brackets well, you may also get demineralisation of the enamel , which can lead to unsightly white squares on you teeth once you have your braces removed. You gums can also become red, puffy and unhealthy.

If you want your teeth looking their best when you finally have your braces removed, its best to keep your teeth as clean as possible.

Why you can’t floss as normal?

You can’t floss you teeth as you used to because the orthodontic wire restricts you from getting in between your teeth.

You need to modify the way you clean your teeth, and specialised products are available for people with braces.

For most people I recommend using superfloss, it’s very easy to use, and cleans you teeth in hard to reach areas effectively (as shown by disclosing tablets).

Note: This article is more relevant if you have a fixed brace with a wire, as clear retainers (such as Invisalign) are removed before cleaning and you can use floss as normal.  

How we selected best floss for braces?

I’m a dentist and also wear braces myself, so I was in a perfect position to try out the products!

Every night for one week, I brushed my teeth (using my Oral B IO9 Electric toothbrush) and then used a different product for interdental cleaning.

• Normal Floss
• Superfloss
• Floss picks
• Interdental Brush
• Water flosser

I then used a plaque disclosing tablet, which stains any remaining plaque and took a photo of my teeth. This clearly showed how clean (or unclean) my teeth were.

We then ranked from best to worst (least effective), by giving them a CLEANING score.

I also got an insight into the experience of using the product to give you an EASE OF USE score.

Top picks

Best Floss for braces – Oral B SuperFloss Super Dental Floss for Braces Bridges

Best Floss Picks for braces – Plackers Orthopick Floss Picks

Best Interdental Brushes for braces – Tepe Mixed Pack Interdental Brushes – Pack of 6

Best Water flosser for braces- Philips Sonicare Cordless Power Flosser 3000 Oral Irrigator

Overall Best Floss for Braces

Oral B SuperFloss Super Dental Floss for Braces Bridges

Why we recommend this floss for braces:

Use super floss and youll see why its called such. Its so much easier to get into tight places, and the spongy floss area feels amazing, really gets inbetween hard to reach places and removed bacteria. 

And then a transition to normal floss in order to get to under the gumline. All in one effective cleaning solution.

Each piece is long enough that you can use a fresh bit for each tooth.

Pros: Pre-measured no need to cut, minty fresh, three specialised portions in each section 

Cons: More costly than normal floss, not exactly compact for travel

Best Floss Picks for Braces

Plackers Orthopick Floss Picks, Unflavored, Designed for Braces

Why we recommend this floss for braces:

Normal floss picks arms are just too thick to use with your braces on. Orthodontic floss picks are specifically designed to be thin, which means they will fit under the wire and you can get floss in between your teeth. I only came across these when carrying out my research for this article and my mind was blown.

They have such a nifty design, and the flip out toothpick helps keep the product safe and compact.

It’s so easy to use, I could floss all my teeth in under 90 seconds. I just wish they were minty flavoured.

Pros: Designed perfectly for the job

Cons: More expensive than superfloss

Also Consider using… Interdental Brushes

Tepe Mixed Pack Interdental Brushes – Pack of 6

Why we recommend this for braces:

Interdental brushes are also an effective tool in remove plaque and bacteria from around teeth when you have braces. In fact I carry one around at all time to dislodge food after eating, and making it easier to rinse away. This helps to prevent gum irritation, annoyance and bad breath from food stagnating.

Each size is colour coded. The best idea is to buy a pack with all the different sizes, see which ones work for you, then you can buy multipacks of that size instead. I use pinks and oranges which are the smallest.

Pros: Effective clean, great for removing food.

Cons: Can be difficult to use on back teeth.

… or a Water flosser

Philips Sonicare Cordless Power Flosser 3000 Oral Irrigator

Why we recommend this for braces:

Water flossers are new and have been proven to be as effective at clearing as floss (1). They better for patients with low dexterity who would struggle to use floss. Some people like them, but for me they are over engineered for the problem. You’d need to keep your toothbrush and flosser both charged at all times. Not great for travel and can be messy before you get used to using them.

Pros: Effective clean

Cons: Pricey, Steep learning curve.

Buying Guide – What to look for when buying floss for braces?

So what exactly should you look for:

Different types are better for different people

If you have poor dexterity or struggle to get stuff in your mouth you may prefere ones with a long holder or handle. It may be worth splashing out on a water flosser.

If you have spacing you may prefer to skip over floss and go for interdental brushes instead, as these can get in easier into larger gaps.

Material

There are 3 types of floss.

Round silk thread: Biodegradable, but not very strong. Can be harsh on gums, and the low surface area not great at removing plaque effectively.

Dental tape: Better at removing plaque and is stronger. Its made of plastic which isn’t the most sustainable. Dental tape is wider and cleans more away with each stroke up and down the tooth than thread.

Flavour

You can get plain floss, but personally I really like it when floss infused with mint, as it really makes your mouth feel clean and fresh.

There are also some fruity flavoured flosses available, made by a company called COCO floss. The floss is infused with coconut oil, and comes in strawberry and orange flavours. You’ll need a floss threader to use with braces.

Price

Cheap floss probably isnt good, but it’s not a case of the more expensive the better. You need to hit a good middle ground as can be expensive over time as you’ll have to replenish your stock. I would recommend investing time in perfecting your technique, as this will save you money in the long term.

Texture

You want it to be smooth and easy to get into tight spaces and strong. Waxed floss slips more easily into the contact points between teeth. If you find that it is shredding you may need to see your dentist an you may have a jagged edge on a filling, or a filling might be loose. 

Ease of use

No one wants to spend all day flossing. It needs to be cost effective but also time effective. You need to be able to floss in about 2-minutes before you use your electric toothbrush for 2 minutes.

Chemical free

BPA free, natural products are better. Obviously the old style thread floss would break down easily, but plastic was so much more effective. The race is now on to find a plastic free product that can do the job well.

Types of floss for braces

There are a few different types of ways of cleaning in between your teeth when you have braces:

Floss pick need to have a thin arm

When I was researching for this article, and saw a video of the platypus flosser at work. I always thought you couldn’t use a floss pick with braces as the wire would be in the way, but orthodontic picks have been cleverly designed to have a very small and thin handle that can fit UNDER the wire.

Normal Floss needs a Floss threader

You usual floss needs to be used with a floss threader as it cant get through the wire. These can be fiddly to use so I would opt for specialised tools.

“Superfloss” Hardened tip floss

With the faff of having to use a wire loop threader with your normal floss, the best solution is to use with floss with a very rigid end like the Oral B Superfloss. This can then be threaded through the gap under your wire and then between the teeth.

Water Flosser

Water flossers are the newest innovation in interdental cleaning. You fill the tank with water or mouthwash, and place the nozzle in each area you’d like to clean. The water is then fired out under pressure to push out any food debris and remove bacteria from between teeth. Water flossers can be effective but need charging, can be messy, and are more expensive than the alternatives.

What about brushes instead?

Intedental Brushes: Can have bristles or soft rubber heads. Need to be small enough to fit into the areas between teeth.

FAQs

Should I floss before or after brushing?

Flossing should ideally be done before brushing. This helps dislodge food particles and plaque from between the teeth and around the braces, allowing the toothbrush to more effectively clean the surfaces of the teeth.

What should I do if my gums bleed when flossing?

If your gums bleed when flossing, it could be a sign of gum inflammation or gingivitis. It’s important to continue flossing gently to remove plaque and debris, but if bleeding persists, consult your dentist for a thorough examination and personalized recommendations for oral care.

Do dental floss products have a use-by date?

Dental floss typically does not have a use-by date, but it’s important to store it in a cool, dry place and replace it if it becomes frayed or damaged. Using fresh floss ensures effective plaque removal and reduces the risk of introducing bacteria into the mouth.

Our Verdict

Having bought, tried and tested all the different types of floss and interdental cleaning aids available for people with braces, and using my knowledge as a dentist I recommend Oral B Superfloss as the best floss for braces. It is cost effective, really easy to use, and brilliant at removing plaque and food debris that can cause inflammation and decay.

Using it daily will ensure your teeth look perfect when you finally have your brace taken off. 

If you’re researching braces before taking the plunge, find an orthodontist near you to get you started on your journey to straighter teeth.