Dental Floss
Dental Floss
Brushing your teeth with a toothbrush and toothpaste is just the first step in a healthy oral care regimen. Dentists also typically recommend flossing your teeth at least once per day to promote healthy teeth and gums. CVS can help you stay stocked up on dental floss for your daily oral care routine. In this product selection, you'll find many different types of traditional dental floss as well as alternatives to floss for interdental cleaning.
Why Floss?
Flossing is vital to the health of your teeth and gums. Toothbrushes are effective at cleaning the surface of the teeth, but they can leave behind debris and bacteria at the gum line. Dental floss can loosen particles that your toothbrush may miss. Plus, dental floss can clean the areas between your teeth where a toothbrush cannot fit. In addition, floss can be used after meals to remove visible food between the teeth. Your dentist can review the proper way to floss with you and recommend the best type of dental floss for your needs.
About Traditional Dental Floss
Traditional dental floss looks like a long, thin string and may be made out of nylon or a filament called polytetrafluoroethylene. It comes wound up like thread inside of a small plastic container. One end of the dental floss is fed through a hole at the top. When you are ready to clean your teeth, you simply grab the end and pull to dispense the right length of dental floss. A metal cutter is positioned at the top of the package for slicing off the floss.
Waxed vs. Unwaxed
Dental floss is available in two main forms: waxed and unwaxed. Waxed floss is coated with a layer of wax, while unwaxed floss is plain. Studies have found that both types of floss work equally well when used correctly. Some people find waxed floss simpler to use. Dentists may also recommend waxed floss for people with orthodontic appliances. Unwaxed floss is typically slightly more affordable.
Alternatives to Floss
If you find dental floss to be difficult to use, you can use an interdental cleaner to get the same results. One of the most common interdental cleaners is the floss pick. These single-use disposable tools feature plastic handles with dental floss heads. Some people find the picks easier to use than traditional dental floss. You can also purchase small brushes and flexible solid plastic picks for interdental cleaning.