Dental Floss Dilemma

Waxed, unwaxed, skinny, wide, flavoured, prethreaded... You just wanna buy a dental floss, but now you feel like you have to consult a Magic 8 Ball in order to choose one. All types remove plaque, so find whichever one you feel most comfortable, says Richard H. Price, a consumer adviser for the American Dental Association.

Narrow, waxed floss slides most easily, making it a good choice if your teeth are close together. If there's more room, try unwaxed floss, which tends to cover more surface as the fibers separate. And if your teeth are widely spaced, dental tape can work for you.

Teflon-coated floss, such as Glide, is highly resistant to shredding. If you have large hands or if you find the process awkward, prethreaded, disposable floss holders may solve your problem. "The real issue isn't what kind of floss you use - it's whether you're flossing at all," says Dr. Price. "you need to do it once a day in order to clean all those nooks and crannies where toothbrush bristles can't reach."