I never thought I'd be the kind of person who has opinions about dental floss, but here we are. After my last dentist visit, I got that classic lecture about flossing more, and honestly, the price of those tiny containers adds up way faster than I expected. I tried grabbing a few of the super cheap store brands (the kind that come in a multipack for like $2), but half the time they shred like crazy or just feel like I'm sawing my gums off.
That said, I did stumble on this random off-brand waxed floss at Dollar Tree and, weirdly enough, it’s been way better than the pricier ones I’ve tried. It’s not fancy, but it doesn’t break, and my teeth feel clean after. I’m kind of shocked because I always assumed you had to splurge for something decent, or at least stick with the big names like Oral-B or whatever.
Has anyone else found a super cheap floss that actually gets the job done? Or do you just suck it up and pay more for the good stuff? I’m honestly tempted to just keep buying the dollar store stuff unless someone has a horror story to change my mind. Would love to hear if there’s some secret floss brand out there that’s both gentle and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
I’ve totally been down the rabbit hole of cheap floss. There was a time I thought “floss is floss,” but after a pack basically turned into dental confetti in my mouth, I got picky. The weird part is, I’ve also had good luck with those random waxed ones from the dollar store—no idea why they sometimes work better than the expensive stuff. I tried the big brands with the “gentle glide” claims, but my teeth just laughed and snapped them in half. Unless you’re getting weird flavors or eco packaging, I say stick with what works, even if it’s off-brand. My only horror story is when I got a knockoff that tasted like plastic and sadness, but hey, at least it didn’t shred.
That “dental confetti” line got me—been there, done that. I always thought the big names would hold up better, but honestly, I’ve had more luck with the store-brand waxed ones too. The only time I regretted it was when I grabbed a mint flavor that tasted like someone’s attempt at mouthwash in a chemistry class. Still, if it doesn’t shred and actually fits between my teeth, I’m happy. For me, as long as it’s not leaving bits behind or costing more than my toothpaste, it’s a win.
“The only time I regretted it was when I grabbed a mint flavor that tasted like someone’s attempt at mouthwash in a chemistry class.”
That cracked me up—been there too. I once tried a “fresh burst” version and it tasted like cleaning fluid. Honestly, I used to think the fancy brands were a must, but after snapping a few between my teeth (and having to dig out the bits), I switched to the cheap waxed stuff. It’s weird how what works for one person can be a total mess for another... but yeah, if it doesn’t shred, I’m sticking with it.
I totally get where you’re coming from—my dentist kept pushing me to floss, but I hated paying for the fancy stuff when it just seemed to fall apart anyway. I’ve actually had better luck with the basic waxed floss from Aldi, if you’ve got one nearby. It’s cheap and doesn’t shred, even though my teeth are pretty close together. I used to worry that “off-brand” meant lower quality, but honestly, my gums have been happier and my wallet definitely is. Funny how the pricier brands aren’t always better.
