Glide is easier for me to handle, but I’ve had it snap on me mid-floss, which isn’t great for the nerves when you’re already tense about dental stuff.
Honestly, I’ve had the opposite experience with Glide—it’s actually survived some of my worst post-popcorn situations. Maybe it depends on tooth spacing or even how dry your mouth is? I get what you mean about waxed floss being slippery, though. Sometimes it feels like it just slides over plaque instead of grabbing it. I switched to a woven floss (think Listerine Ultraclean) and it’s been holding up way better for me, even when I’m in a rush or jittery from caffeine.
My kid’s dentist gave us woven floss samples too—honestly, they seem sturdier than Glide for tight spots. But I’m curious, does anyone else’s kid complain about the woven stuff feeling “scratchy”? Mine’s super picky, so maybe it’s just him...
But I’m curious, does anyone else’s kid complain about the woven stuff feeling “scratchy”?
Mine totally does—she says it feels weird on her gums compared to the waxy ones. I think the texture actually helps pull more gunk out, but yeah, it’s not as smooth. Do you find the woven kind shreds less? Glide always breaks on my molars.
she says it feels weird on her gums compared to the waxy ones
That’s super common, especially with kids. Woven floss does feel a bit rougher, but you’re right—it grabs more debris. In my experience, it does shred less than Glide, especially if you’ve got tight contacts. Maybe try a few brands to see which texture bugs her the least? Sometimes it’s just about finding the one that bothers them the least, even if it’s not perfect.
Woven floss is a weird one, honestly. I totally get what you mean about the texture—my daughter says it feels like a tiny rope and she hates it. But for me, after years of struggling with waxed ones shredding around my brackets, it’s the only thing that doesn’t get stuck or break halfway through. I’ll take a little roughness if it means not having to yank broken floss out from between my teeth, but I get why some people can’t stand that feeling.
I do think there’s a bit of a trade-off. Waxy floss glides easier and feels gentler, but it just doesn’t cut it with all the gunk that gets trapped when you’ve got braces or tight contacts. I’ve burned through so many brands—Glide, Reach, Cocofloss (which smells amazing but costs more than my lunch some days), and honestly, none of them are perfect. Glide is smooth, but tears so easily for me. Cocofloss lasts through my whole mouth, but it’s super thick and takes some getting used to.
For kids, I’d say stick with whatever they’ll actually use. If the woven stuff is a deal-breaker, maybe try one of those tape-style flosses? They’re flat, a bit gentler, and seem to hold up pretty well. My kid will only use those little disposable floss picks, which drives me nuts because they’re wasteful, but hey, at least she’s flossing.
It’s wild how something as simple as floss can be so personal. I guess the best brand is the one you don’t dread using every night.