Flossing is a huge factor in maintaining a good oral health routine, but unfortunately, it can be tough for kids to remember. Luckily, some of the best floss for kids is designed in a fun and inviting way, making it easier to remember.
When using some of the best dental floss, your child can remove any food and plaque hiding between their teeth, preventing the possibility of developing cavities or gum disease.
What Types of Dental Floss Are Most Effective?
While traditional waxed floss is often preferred, water flossers and floss picks can work as well to remove plaque from the teeth. Here’s a preview of some of the best flossers for children and toddlers and the benefits of each:
- Floss Picks: Many children prefer to use floss picks because of the convenience. They’re easy to hold and use, which can be especially beneficial for kids who are differently abled. Therefore, floss picks may be the best dental floss for toddlers who are still learning gripping skills.
- Flossers with Built-In Threaders:Children with braces, permanent retainers, or bridges often use flosses with built-in threaders to reach all the nooks and crannies of their teeth & gums and effectively remove all food and plaque.
- Water Flossers: These help get any food out of the teeth that may have been trapped. Many with braces and dexterity issues find them to be an easier alternative to flossers with built-in threaders. While you might not think that water would as much plaque or food as traditional wax floss, most studies show that water flossers are in fact an effective alternative to other options. They are one of the best kids floss option for those with braces, usually providing more effective cleaning properties than other options.
What Happens When Kids Don’t Floss?
Not flossing for a long time can contribute to the development of both tooth decay (cavities/caries) and gingivitis.
Gingivitis, or the earliest stage of gum disease, is characterized as red swollen gums. When this inflammation becomes chronic, it’s known as periodontitis.
Gum disease is unfortunately linked with heart disease, which is a potentially fatal condition.
While not flossing occasionally may not contribute to the development of heart disease, consistently not flossing can! So, it’s extremely important to make sure to teach your little one not just to brush, but brush and floss daily.
Most Effective Types of Dental Floss for Removing Plaque
The mouth is the gateway to the body and is the most vital organ for improving your health, beginning in childhood. In my book “If Your Mouth Could Talk,” you will learn why flossing is crucial for children and how it greatly impacts their oral and overall health.
These are the best floss for teeth that effectively remove plaque build-up.
Traditional Waxed Floss
One of the most popular choices for floss is traditional waxed floss. Waxed dental floss contains a thin layer of wax on its surface, which helps make it easier to glide between your child’s teeth. The SuperMouth Hydroxamin with Flouride Mouth Floss is one of the best types of waxed floss for kids that comes in various fun flavors. It’s soft and gentle on the teeth and feels comfortable around your fingers. Furthermore, they have no PTFE (Teflon), a highly-toxic “forever chemical” or petroleum-based wax, a potential carcinogen & hormone disruptor. Instead, they use a patented expanding technology to remove 40% more plaque, and they’re infused with all the key toothpaste ingredients.
Floss Picks
Floss picks are another one of the best floss options for kids. They are super convenient, as they comes as small, plastic sticks with a pre-stretched strand of floss on the end. Floss picks are easy for children to hold and work around their mouths to clean their teeth.
The downside of floss picks is that you can’t wrap the floss around your fingers in a C-formation to floss around the entire side of a tooth; you can only insert the floss pick into the gap between teeth. Therefore, floss picks can be less effective at removing plaque compared to regular wax floss. Still, they are an effective option, especially for people with disabilities and little ones who can’t yet use regular floss.
One of our recommendations for the best floss picks is the Superhero Flossers (96 count). These flossers come in three flavors and are designed for kids between 2 and 5.
Water Flossers
Water flossers are the best dental floss options for children with braces, retainers, bridges, or just learning to floss, and are a great alternative to floss picks for persons with disabilities.
Did You Know?: Often, children who are beginner flossers do not floss properly? Water flossers make it easier to remove any food particles from their teeth as well as remove the plaque that contributes to gingivitis and tooth decay.
The Waterpik is my recommendation for the best water flosser for kids, and it might even be the best water flosser of 2025 and beyond. It’s designed for kids over age 6 and is simple, safe, and small.
The Best Floss for Kids: FAQs
What’s the safest dental floss to use?
What floss should kids use? That depends on their unique needs and situation.
Traditional waxed floss, water flossers, and floss picks are all safe options for kids. One is not considered safer than the other, and are all effective in cleaning teeth, removing plaque, and reducing the risk of tooth decay.
Consider the age and stage of a person when thinking about which floss might be best for them. For instance, are they old enough to floss on their own? If not, floss picks might be the best option. If they are, then a traditional non-petroleum based floss free of PTFE might be more effective. Do they have braces? Then a water flosser might be the most effective option.
What material floss is best?
Waxed floss, like Mouth Floss with Hydroxamin, is the best material for floss. However, children who have tight spaces between their teeth can use a flosser (floss pick) because it’s thinner and could be easier to maneuver. Parents can choose from polyester, nylon, or silk flosses. Petroleum-based floss ( floss made from plastic) should be avoided due to health risks associated with using it.
Do dentists still recommend flossing?
Absolutely! The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends flossing as an essential part of caring for your teeth and gums. Flossing helps remove plaque that can cause cavities or gum disease to develop in areas your toothbrush cannot reach. If you had to choose between flossing and brushing, flossing might actually be more important! (But actually, both flossing and brushing, as part of a regular dental care routine are both extremely essential).
At what age should a child start flossing?
This age can vary depending on the child, but most children should begin flossing as soon as there are contacts between the teeth ─ sometime around the age of 2. Flossing should start when your child has two teeth that touch together. Children this young cannot yet floss independently, so you will need to help them until they can.
Kids can usually start flossing on their own around ages 6-8, usually by age 10. By helping them floss from an early age, your child will understand that flossing should be a part of their regular oral hygiene routine.
Conclusion
Whether your child prefers waxed floss, a water flosser, or floss picks, flossing should be factored into their daily routine at least once daily. The best floss can help prevent your child from developing cavities gum disease, and reduces the likelihood of inflamed gums.
The Super Dentists is a top-awarded pediatric dentist in San Diego. Schedule an appointment to visit one of our six locations near you.
