String Floss Alternatives

You miss about 40 percent of the surface of your teeth when you do not floss regularly, according to the website Dental Gentle Care. Flossing your teeth is important to your daily dental care because it polishes the outside of your teeth, reduces gum disease, gets rid of plaque and contributes to better-smelling breath. Traditionally, stores used to carry only the long stringy floss in a square packaging. However, now the market offers a variety of string-floss alternatives to help in your regular dental care.

Soft Picks

• Soft Picks have 76 tiny bristles on one end and a thin, flat rectangle of plastic that resembles a small spatula at the other end. People who have bridges, implants, crowns and braces can safely use soft picks. Unlike some string-floss alternatives, soft picks do not have wires included in the design.

Toothpicks

• Toothpicks are wooden sticks that are in home kitchens and given out to customers at restaurants. However, you can purchase dental toothpicks in the dental-care section of convenience stores. This string-floss alternative dislodges particles and items between teeth and removes plaque. You should use toothpick once and throw it away after use.

Flossers

• Flossers are disposable dental-care tools that help you maintain your dental health. Flossers have less than a half an inch of waxed floss on one end and some have a flat edge to scrape your tongue at the other end. You can find flossers in a variety of flavors such as mint, berry and cherry, and they are available in numerous vibrant colors.

Proxabrush Cleaners

• Proxabrush cleaners have an oval-shape handle with tiny bristles along one end. You can use proxabrush cleaner to remove plaque and they fit between bridges, braces and tight spaces. The neck bends to help you reach curved and tight areas in your mouth. Manufacturers do not recommend proxabrush cleaners for use near implants or for people with heavy fillings.