I hear you, but I think there are some overlooked options if you’re willing to tinker a bit.
I get what you’re saying about PTFE and reusable picks, but I can’t help thinking about the long-term cost. Those reusable picks seem great at first, but the refills aren’t always cheap, and some brands lock you into their own string. I’ve actually switched to silk floss that comes in a glass jar—initially a bit pricier, but the refills are compostable and last ages. It’s not quite as smooth as PTFE, but my wallet and conscience both feel better. Sometimes it’s worth testing a few options before settling.
Has anyone else had trouble getting kids to use silk floss? My daughter has super tight teeth, and we tried the silk-in-a-jar thing, but it kept shredding or getting stuck. I do like that it’s compostable, but honestly, I ended up back with PTFE just because it slides through easier for her. I get the environmental bit, but if she dreads flossing, it’s kind of a lose-lose. Maybe there’s a middle ground I’m missing?
We ran into the same issue with my son—super tight teeth, and the silk floss just kept fraying or getting wedged. He’d get so frustrated, which kind of defeats the whole point. Have you looked into those plant-based PLA flosses? They’re not perfect (still a bit plasticky), but they slide better than silk and break down faster than PTFE. Not totally zero-waste, but maybe a compromise? I’m still searching for something that doesn’t make flossing feel like a wrestling match...
I totally get the frustration—been there with my own “floss battles” (tight teeth club here). I actually tried a PLA floss and, weirdly, it still shredded for me and felt a bit too slick, almost like it was just sliding over everything without grabbing gunk. Maybe I’m picky, but I ended up going back to a PTFE one for a while, even though I don’t love the plastic. Honestly, sometimes it feels like you have to pick your battles between eco and actually getting clean teeth…
- Yeah, I get the “pick your battles” thing.
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— totally same here. I tried a couple of eco brands and ended up with shredded bits stuck between my teeth.“felt a bit too slick, almost like it was just sliding over everything without grabbing gunk”
- Ended up using silk floss for a while—biodegradable, but honestly it snaps if you look at it funny.
- At this point, I’m back to PTFE too. Not perfect, but at least it works.
- If anyone’s found something that’s both eco and doesn’t fall apart with tight teeth, I’d love to hear about it...
