The great dental quest: searching for planet-friendly floss

Compostable picks sound good, but unless you’ve got an actual compost pile at home, I’m not convinced they break down anywhere useful.

I totally get where you’re coming from. I tried one of those “cornstarch” floss picks after my last cleaning and honestly, it looked exactly the same sitting in my bathroom trash a month later. Didn’t see any real difference compared to the plastic ones, except it was more expensive and felt a little flimsier.

The refillable floss containers are another thing I struggled with - my hands aren’t the steadiest, and trying to thread the floss through that tiny hole was way more stressful than it needed to be. I went back to the regular waxed stuff too, just because it’s what I know and it actually works.

I keep wondering if the “eco” options are more about feeling good than actually making a difference, especially when you don’t have a compost bin. I want to do the right thing, but not if it means extra hassle and possibly worse results for my teeth. It’s honestly a bit overwhelming trying to balance all this with dental anxiety already in the mix.

I get what you mean about the eco stuff maybe being more about the “vibe” than actual results. I tried switching to silk floss in a glass jar when I got all motivated, but honestly, it shredded between my teeth and I felt like I spent more time picking bits out than actually flossing. Didn’t help with my anxiety at all.

Is there any brand that’s actually sturdy and not just green-washed? Or is it basically a choice between plastic or frustration? I want to do better, but not if it means skipping flossing altogether…

Honestly, I feel you on the silk floss - it’s like trying to floss with a spiderweb. I tried a bamboo one once, but same deal, just kept snapping. Closest thing that worked for me was Cocofloss. Still plastic, but at least it’s recycled and doesn’t shred like the “eco” stuff. Not perfect, but my teeth are happier.

Cocofloss has been my go-to for a while too, mostly because everything else either shreds or feels like dental tape from the dollar store. I do wish there was a fully compostable option that actually holds up between tight teeth. Has anyone had luck with those corn-based or charcoal-infused flosses? I tried one from a zero waste shop and it just sort of... disintegrated halfway through my mouth. Maybe it’s just my teeth are too close together?

My kid’s dentist handed us one of those “eco” floss samples - think it was corn-based? It basically turned into wet tissue after two teeth. We’ve got tight teeth in the family too, so I feel your pain. Cocofloss is the only thing that doesn’t get stuck or fall apart for us. I keep hoping someone will invent a compostable floss that actually survives the job... but so far, no luck on our end either.