If you have dental crowding, you’ll need to buy the best flossers for tight teeth.
This is the condition that occurs when your teeth are jammed close together. While you might be able to brush the closely-stacked teeth, flossing them is going to be very difficult.
This is why you need to invest in special flossing equipment that can reach the tiny spaces between your teeth.
Here’s a rundown of some of the best floss picks for tight teeth.
TOP 3 BEST FLOSSER FOR TIGHT TEETH | ||
---|---|---|
#1 Best Overall Flosser for tight teeth - Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Comfort Plus
Slide up to 50% more easily in tight spaces | ||
#2 Dr. Tung’s Smart Floss Removes up to 55% more plaque | ||
| #3 RADIUS – Natural Soft Floss Spun from natural silk thread - 100% Biodegradable |
Explaination of dental crowding and tight teeth
In a perfect world, all our teeth would align properly like soldiers standing at attention in a row. Each one would sit firmly next to its neighbour without causing any overlapping or crowding issues.
This means that there wouldn’t be too little or too much pressure between the teeth.
Besides, proper teeth alignment does so much more than make us look good. It’s also the body’s protective mechanism.
Allow me to explain:
It’s a no-brainer that the core function of teeth is to chew so as to ensure that food is properly broken down before swallowing. Digestion usually starts in the mouth where the salivary glands release saliva to aid in the chemical breakdown.
Unfortunately, not all food particles are cooperative and some end up going down the oesophagus without being disintegrated.
When teeth are correctly aligned, they create a smooth path for these food particles to make their way down the canal instead of remaining on our teeth.
So even as we chew food with our teeth, what we’re really doing is preventing food from getting stuck on them. Proper teeth alignment plays a vital role in this mechanical digestion process that starts in the mouth.
While not all people with tight teeth experience difficulty when chewing, those with a severe form of the condition do. Possible issues include overbites, underbites and crossbites.
Forms of dental crowding
If you’re feeling tooth pain and suspect that it’s being caused by dental crowding, you should visit your dentist immediately. This professional will be able to examine your teeth and determine if you have any of the three forms of crowding:
Class 1 dental crowding
This is the most common form of crowding and it’s characterized by a slight overlapping of the lower teeth by the upper teeth. Since the points of the molars align perfectly with the grooves of the corresponding molars, you will still have a healthy bite.
Class 2 dental crowding
In this case, both the upper jaw and upper teeth lap over the lower jaw and teeth in an unusual way. Scientifically known as retrognathism, this type of improper alignment is very severe and warrants orthodontic intervention.
Class 3 dental crowding
This constitutes an underbite and is characterized by overlapping of the upper teeth by the lower teeth. It causes the lower jaw to protrude forward.
How to buy the best flossers for tight teeth
Choosing between the different types of flossers can be difficult. Here are a few pointers to guide you:
Type of floss
There are three main types of flossers to pick from.
floss picks
A floss pick is a plastic-made device that has floss threaded through it at the opening. This is a more recent interdental cleaner. However, it’s gained popularity pretty fast, partly because of its ease of use.
Here are the benefits of using floss picks:
Still, floss picks have several limitations. For one, using a single pick to floss your teeth can distribute bacteria throughout your mouth. Also, the majority of picks are constructed using disposable plastic, meaning they’re not eco-friendly.
String floss
This is the most traditional way of flossing and it entails looping a piece of string between teeth. The user then has to rub the string up and down the surface of each tooth to remove plaque.
In addition to being time-consuming, there are several other disadvantages of using a string floss.
For instance, it’s a little rough on people with sensitive gums and braces. It’s also not the best floss for individuals with dexterity problems.
Another drawback is that string flossing doesn’t remove all the food particles from the gaps between your teeth.
That said, it has several advantages such as the fact that it doesn’t need any power source. It’s also cheaper than floss picks and water flossers.
water flossers
While water flossers seem like a recent invention, they’ve been around since 1962. Throughout history, tons of advancements have been incorporated in these devices to make them more effective.
A water flosser works by directing a jet of water to your gums and teeth. The intense water pressure is what helps to remove stubborn food particles and plaque.
This flossing technique is perfect for individuals with sensitive gums and braces among other dental issues. Furthermore, it’s less time-consuming than using a string floss.
Look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance
If you want to be sure that the floss you’re purchasing has been tested for safety and efficacy, you need to look for the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval.
The ADA is an organization of professional US dentists, who have devoted their lives to ethical dental practices and scientific advancements. If the floss doesn’t have an ADA label, then there’s no way to determine if it’s been tested by any party.
Thin vs thick floss
For an individual with closely packed teeth, you want to choose a thin floss so that it fits nicely even between the tightest teeth. More specifically, you should avoid products with descriptive words like “tape” or “super” dental floss.
However, if you have large spaces between your teeth, go for an extra thick floss. Choosing this kind of floss will help to floss all the surfaces of your teeth.
The easiest way to determine if the texture of the floss is suitable, is to test it. If you floss and the string or floss pick slides in too easily then you need to get a thicker floss.
Waxed vs unwaxed
Another choice you have to make is between waxed and unwaxed types of flossers.
The waxed floss has a wax coating while the unwaxed does not. Unfortunately, this extra feature is both an advantage and disadvantage. While the coating makes it easier to clean between teeth, it also makes it thicker.
But even then, most people prefer waxed floss. Based on this research carried out by the Journal of Periodontology, 79% of the respondents said they prefer waxed floss. While only 21% claimed they prefer the unwaxed variety.
In spite of the preference for waxed flossers, unwaxed floss has several benefits. Its thinner profile makes it suitable for individuals with tight teeth.
Another perk of using unwaxed floss is that it generates a creaking sound against clean teeth. This way, it’s easy to know when your teeth are completely clean.
Flavored vs unflavored
Some flossers are designed in distinct flavors like cardamom or mint to promote fresh breath. Keep in mind that the flavoring has zero impact on how the floss works.
It also doesn’t introduce any sugar compounds or calories. So it boils down to what you prefer.
However, if you’re buying the floss for a child, getting a flavored type is recommended. The mint or cinnamon flavor might motivate them to floss regularly.
Top 5 flossers for tight teeth
So without further ado, with all the information you’ve just read above, choosing which one of our best flossers for tight teeth below should be easy.
1. Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Comfort Plus
Oral-B is one of the leading dental hygiene companies in the US and it’s Pro-Health Comfort Plus Floss is a good example of their quality products.
Their first dental floss Gore-Tex fiber, which was invented back in 1971, wasn’t a big success unfortunately.
However Glide Floss, with its efficient and reliable performance, has enabled the company to redeem itself. Despite its waxy, silky surface, the floss glides very smoothly between closely-packed teeth.
Oral-B incorporated a texture that enables it to fit in tight spaces.
Unlike low-quality flossers, this one doesn’t shed no matter how hard you pull it while flossing. Plus, its unique shape makes it easy to maneuver below the gumline and remove plaque from hard to reach areas.
- CONS
- Has a mint flavor
- Recommended by many dentists
- The natural wax coating provides the needed grip to remove hard plaque
- Helps to stimulate gums
2. Dr. Tung’s Smart Floss
With every product that Dr.Tung makes, they aim to help people achieve healthy, natural smiles.
Even though they’re mainly known for their range of tongue cleaners and iconic toothbrush systems, they also make some of the best flossers for tight teeth.
Their Smart Floss has been clinically proven to eliminate 55% more plaque compared to traditional floss.
To get started, simply wind the piece of floss around your fingers. Next, slide it between your teeth and loop it around the tooth you wish to clean.
What makes Smart Floss different is that once you pull and release, it expands.
Like our top pick, Dr. Tung’s floss is also flavored using natural cardamom. It’s also coated with a blend of vegetable and beeswax.
However, it does not contain any allergy-triggering ingredients such as gluten, fluoride or dairy.
- CONS
- Stretches and increases in size to fill the interdental spaces
- Removes more plaque than traditional flossing
- Suitable for all types of users
3. Raduis Natural Soft Floss
If you’re vegan the Natural Soft Floss is the ultimate solution.
Now at first, this may seem like the typical mint floss. However, the wax coating of this floss is extracted from candelilla shrubs found in Southwestern desert. Which is why it is 100% vegan-friendly.
The floss is also made of nylon filaments, which the manufacturer has managed to give a soft and somewhat fluffy texture.
Another reason that makes Radius Natural Soft one of the best flossers for tight teeth is that it has different flavors, which are cranberry and mint.
For the cranberry, the manufacturer has used the shrub’s extract for its health benefits such as antibacterial properties. Mint, on the other hand, leaves its signature minty-fresh taste and scent behind.
Xylitol is another ingredient used in this floss and it helps to minimize acidity in the mouth while also preventing growth of bacteria.
- CONS
- Incredibly soft consistency
- Does not contain harmful ingredients
- Nice mint flavor
- Backed by Leaping Bunny certification
5. Dentek Floss Picks
The Dentek set of floss picks are designed to remove plaque from closely-packed teeth. They are equipped with features that make them suitable for this application.
If you have tight teeth, then you understand the frustration that arises if a floss pick breaks in between your teeth. You’ll have to:
- Remove the broken pick, and
- Start all over again.
Luckily, Dentek floss picks have very sturdy handles that won’t break.
But these picks are not only designed for users whose teeth are jammed together. With their criss-cross threads that collect plaque with incredible ease, they can be used by anyone.
Another feature that makes them the best floss picks is the fact that they come in different sizes. A 75-count, 90-count and 125-count.
This way, you can buy the quantity that fits your budget. They also come in a refreshing minty flavor.
- CONS
- Employs a strong flossing technique
- Includes a tongue scraper to remove debris from surface
- Mint flavor to freshen your breath
- Approved by the American Dental Association accepted
Best flosser for tight teeth, solved!
If you have crowded teeth, there are certain factors you should take into account when choosing a dental floss.
It should be thin so that it fits in tight spaces. It should also have ADA approval seal to certify that it’s safe and efficient.
Based on our research, we found the Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Comfort Plus to be the best flossers for tight teeth for several reasons. It comes with a coating that helps in removing plaque, has a nice mint flavor and is recommended by most dentists.