Dental Floss Types: What Works and How to Floss

Flossing cleans the 30 to 40% of tooth surfaces your toothbrush can't reach. Done daily with good technique, it helps prevent gingivitis, cavities and gum disease, and it keeps your breath fresher.

Ask a dentist what the best dental floss is and you'll usually get a frustratingly honest answer: the best floss is the one you'll actually use every day, with good technique. Material still matters, though. It changes how floss feels, how well it grabs plaque, and what footprint it leaves behind.

This guide covers both. First, how to floss the healthy way, step by step. Then the main floss types (nylon, PTFE, silk, corn-based PLA and bamboo charcoal), compared on cleaning, comfort, health (PFAS) and environmental impact, so you can pick the floss that suits your mouth and your values.

Quick Decision Guide

• Very tight contacts or snaggy fillings: go for smooth, shred-resistant floss (PTFE glide style or a strong smooth alternative).
• Normal gaps and you want more scrub: choose something lightly textured (nylon, silk or bamboo charcoal).
• Sustainability is a priority: look for silk or PLA filaments and low-waste packaging such as refillable glass jars or paper boxes.
• Avoiding PFAS or Teflon-like coatings: skip PTFE floss and pick nylon, silk, PLA, or polyester or charcoal floss with plant-based waxes.

Is Dental Floss Good for Your Teeth?

Yes, when you use it daily with good technique. Floss disrupts plaque between teeth and just under the gumline, where toothbrush bristles don't reach. Expect mild bleeding if you're new to it. That should settle within a week or two of consistent, gentle flossing. If it doesn't, talk to your dentist.

The Healthiest Way to Floss (Step by Step, 90 Seconds)

1. Measure it out. Cut around 45 cm and wind most of it around one middle finger and the rest around the other.
2. Slide, don't snap. Guide the floss between teeth with a gentle zig-zag motion.
3. Hug in a C-shape. Curve the floss around one tooth and glide it up and down, from just under the gum to the tip, 2 to 3 times. Then repeat on the neighbouring tooth.
4. Use a new section for each gap. Move to a clean segment for every space.
5. Once a day, ideally at night. Water flossers and interdental brushes are great add-ons, not full replacements.

Go slowly around tight contacts; gentle pressure wins. Think gentle hug and wipe, not sawing across the gums. If dexterity is an issue, a floss holder helps.

Dental Floss Types Compared

1. Nylon dental floss

The classic supermarket floss. Multifilament nylon twisted together, available waxed or unwaxed, flavoured or plain. It's a petroleum-derived plastic.

A slight texture lets nylon scrub plaque off tooth surfaces effectively. Waxed versions slide better than unwaxed but can shred in very tight contacts or on rough fillings. It isn't biodegradable and adds to plastic waste and possible microplastics, especially if flushed.

Best for: people who want a proven, effective floss and aren't focused on cutting plastic.

2. PTFE "glide" floss (Teflon-like)

Made from PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), a PFAS "forever chemical" in the same family as non-stick pan coatings. It's a single smooth filament.

It slides very easily between tight teeth, though it can also glide over plaque, so you may need extra passes for the same clean. It's usually rated one of the most comfortable flosses. It isn't biodegradable at all, and some research suggests people who use PTFE floss may have higher blood levels of certain PFAS chemicals. Read more in our PFAS and dental floss guide.

Best for: people with very tight contacts who simply won't floss otherwise. Not ideal if you're trying to avoid PFAS.

3. Silk dental floss

Floss made from silk fibres, usually coated with beeswax or plant wax, and one of the oldest floss types. Its multifilament structure gives a gentle texture that grabs plaque well, performing much like nylon with good technique. It feels soft on gums but can fray in very tight spaces.

It's biodegradable and compostable, and often sold in refillable glass jars. It isn't vegan, because silk comes from silkworms.

Best for: people who want a plastic-free filament, are happy with an animal-derived material, and don't have extremely tight teeth.

4. Corn-based PLA floss (plant-based)

Made from PLA (polylactic acid), a bioplastic made from corn or other plant starches. It works well for typical spacing and feels smooth and comfortable, especially when waxed. It's less strong than nylon, so it's more likely to snap in very tight or crowded gaps. Ease it in with a patient zig-zag.

It's plant-based and biodegradable under composting conditions (especially industrial compost), and typically vegan and PFAS-free.

Best for: people who want a vegan, plant-based floss for average spacing, and who know that "compostable" depends on the conditions.

5. Bamboo charcoal dental floss

A core filament (usually polyester, sometimes nylon) infused with bamboo charcoal. The light texture gives a grippy feel that helps lift plaque, and the black colour shows what you've removed, which many people find satisfying and motivating.

It feels firmer and scrubbier than ultra-slick PTFE but is comfortable when used gently. A strong filament resists snapping even in tighter spaces.

The filament is typically polyester or nylon, so it isn't biodegradable, whatever some marketing says. Where bamboo charcoal floss shines is packaging: refillable glass jars and paper boxes cut plastic waste a lot compared with plastic dispensers.

Best for: people who want a strong, satisfying floss with visible results and lower-waste packaging, and are comfortable with a charcoal-infused filament rather than a fully plant-based string.

Which Floss for Which Teeth?

• Tight contacts or fillings that snag: a smoother floss, either PTFE-style or a smooth, strong eco alternative.
• Normal or wider spaces: a textured option like silk, woven nylon or bamboo charcoal for more scrub.
• Sensitive gums: soft, smooth options such as corn-based PLA or well-waxed silk. Go slowly and never snap.
• Bridges, implants, braces or bigger gaps: add interdental brushes or a water flosser on top of floss. See our braces and aligners routine.

Sustainability Without Greenwash

• Avoid PTFE if you're trying to avoid forever chemicals.
• Nylon and polyester work well but are plastics, so don't flush them and choose low-waste packaging.
• Silk offers a biodegradable filament but isn't vegan.
• PLA is plant-based and can biodegrade under the right conditions.
• Bamboo charcoal floss is usually a plastic filament plus charcoal, but it can be very low-waste in a refillable glass jar.

How to dispose of floss: never flush it, because it tangles plumbing and harms wildlife. Put used floss in your household rubbish unless it's a silk or PLA floss and your local council accepts it in compost.

Where Crescent Nest Fits In

Our Bamboo Charcoal Dental Floss uses a polyester-based filament with bamboo charcoal for strength and plaque-lifting texture. It's coated with plant-based candelilla wax and natural mint: no PTFE or PFAS. It comes in a refillable glass jar with a paper outer box, so you keep the jar and just replace the spool with a floss refill. It's vegan, with no silk, beeswax or Teflon-like coatings.

We're open about the trade-offs: the filament isn't compostable and should go in general waste. The packaging and refill system are where we meaningfully cut plastic, and we avoid PFAS and greenwashed claims.

Flossing FAQs

What is the best type of dental floss?
The one you'll use every day without shredding or pain. Smooth floss suits tight teeth, textured floss gives more scrub in normal gaps, and silk, PLA or bamboo charcoal in a refillable jar are the lower-waste choices.

How often should I floss?
Once a day. At night is ideal, because it clears the day's plaque before you sleep.

Should I floss before or after brushing?
Floss first, then brush, and spit rather than rinse so the fluoride keeps working. Doing both matters more than the order. Read more: should you floss before or after brushing?

My gums bleed when I floss. Is that normal?
A little at first, yes. It should improve within a week or two of gentle daily flossing. If bleeding continues, check with your dentist.

Are floss picks okay?
Better than nothing, but string floss wraps the tooth in a C-shape for a deeper clean. Picks are handy on the go; at home, use string floss or add interdental brushes.

Water flosser or floss?
Water flossers are excellent add-ons, especially for braces and implants, but they don't replace string floss in tight contacts.

What's the best floss for sensitive gums?
Soft, smooth options like corn-based PLA or well-waxed silk. Go slowly and never snap. If soreness persists, speak to your dentist.

Which Dental Floss Should You Choose?

There's no single best floss for everyone. Ask yourself:

• Will I actually use this daily?
• Does it feel comfortable and effective in my mouth?
• Am I okay with the materials and their footprint?

If you want a strong, satisfying clean, the visible feedback of charcoal floss, and a refillable glass jar that cuts plastic waste, Crescent Nest Bamboo Charcoal Floss is a great fit. Pick the floss you'll reach for every night, use it well, and your gums will thank you.