A 32-year-old member asked:

Is dental floss more effective than a toothpick?

3 doctor answers8 doctors weighed in
Dr. Robert Landman
Dentistry 34 years experience
Floss vs toothpick: unless there are spaces 360 degrees around the tooth, YES , floss will be more effective in cleaning at the point where 2 adjacent teeth touch than toothpicks, and that is the place where cavities will commonly form in absence of flossing
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. Paul Grin
Pain Management 38 years experience
Regular floss: is recommended, but toothpicks are better than nothing for your gums and oral health.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. Orly Hendizadeh
Dentistry 15 years experience
Yes: Dental floss is more effective than a toothpick since floss can clean the surfaces of two teeth where they are touching each other while the toothpick can only clean in between the teeth under the point of contact.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.

Similar questions

A 49-year-old member asked:

Is dental floss more effective than floss picks?

5 doctor answers17 doctors weighed in
Dr. Robert Landman
Dentistry 34 years experience
Floss/ flosspick: both are effective if used properly, though flosspicks cant always get under fixed bridgework. around temporary crowns regular floss is preferable as it can be removed with a lesser chance of dislodging the crowns
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.

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I may have accidentally swallowed a piece of dental floss. What could happen?
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Should gums bleed when first dental flossing?
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Hi i sowwaloed a pecice of dental floss will i be ok ?
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Last updated Apr 19, 2016
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