once I even had to use tweezers to get a bit out from under my wire. Not fun.
Been there too, and honestly, that was enough for me to swear off the cheap stuff during braces. I tried a few dollar store brands thinking floss is floss, right? Nope. It either shredded or felt like trying to pull a shoelace between my teeth. These days, I’d rather pay a bit more and not risk another wrestling match with my wires... just not worth the hassle.
I tried a few dollar store brands thinking floss is floss, right? Nope. It either shredded or felt like trying to pull a shoelace between my teeth.
That’s exactly where I landed too—thought I was being clever saving a few bucks, but nope, learned the hard way. I remember one time with a super cheap brand, it actually got stuck and started fraying everywhere... I ended up with little threads all caught up in my brackets. Took forever to get it out, and honestly, I was worried I’d snap a wire.
I get wanting to save money (braces aren’t cheap), but decent floss just makes life so much easier. Some of the mid-range stuff, like the waxed tape style, has worked way better for me than the bargain bin options. It’s not crazy expensive, but it doesn’t turn flossing into an ordeal either.
You’re definitely not alone—wrestling with wires and bad floss is just not worth it. Sometimes spending a couple extra bucks really does save your sanity.
I’ve totally been there—thought I’d save a couple bucks with the generic stuff, but it just wasn’t worth it. Once, the floss actually snapped mid-use and I spent ages fishing out tiny bits from between my molars. After that, I switched to those waxed tape varieties too. They’re not the cheapest, but honestly, they don’t shred or get stuck, so I stick with them now. Every now and then I’ll try a new “budget” brand, just in case, but I always end up going back. Sometimes cheap really does just mean... cheap.
I swear, flossing with the cheap stuff is like playing dental roulette. I once bought a dollar store pack thinking, “How bad could it be?”—turns out, pretty bad. The floss was so thin it felt like trying to thread a spiderweb through my teeth, and then it snapped, leaving me with what I can only describe as dental confetti wedged in there. Not my best look.
Honestly, I’ve tried to be thrifty, but after too many close calls (and one embarrassing dentist visit where they had to fish out a rogue strand), I just stick with the pricier waxed tape now. It glides, it doesn’t shred, and my gums don’t hate me after. Maybe there’s a unicorn budget brand out there that works, but I haven’t found it yet. Sometimes you really do get what you pay for... especially when it comes to keeping your smile intact.
Sometimes you really do get what you pay for... especially when it comes to keeping your smile intact.
I get what you mean, but I’ve had a weirdly different experience. The Target generic floss (like, $2?) has been surprisingly decent for me—doesn’t shred, and I’m not left with “dental confetti” in my mouth. Maybe it’s luck or just the gap size between my teeth? I do think some of the techier floss picks out there are overkill, but I’m curious—has anyone tried those water flossers? I keep seeing them on TikTok and wonder if they’re worth the hype or just another gadget collecting dust.