I have used inexpensive dental floss, some of it from name brand companies, and have been sorely disappointed. Some of the less expensive dental floss feels harsh on my gums, frays easily and does not have much flavor. Glide is constructed well, with a coating that easily passes between my teeth, giving my gums a nice massage as I floss my teeth. The string stays intact without any fraying, which is a bonus.
Aside from the superior construction of Glide dental floss, the brand has a pleasant flavor. By the time I have completed flossing between all of my teeth, my mouth is left with the sensation of having rinsed with mouthwash. The intense minty flavor has a pleasant aftertaste that other brands do not seem to have.
I normally purchase the five-pack of Glide dental floss from Costco or Sam's Club, paying between two and three dollars per pack. Purchased separately, the dental floss retails around three dollars or more. There are name brands on the shelf (Johnson and Johnson for one) that can be purchased for as little as one dollar. These brands are known and less expensive, but are not a bargain. I have found that the cheap quality of the floss makes me less likely to use the cheaper brands, which feel like they are giving my gums rope burn.
Glide dental floss is made by Crest. Each pack comes with 43.7 yards of dental floss. Why 43.7 instead of a round number like 50 or 44, the world may never know. I'm certain they have a good reason. I normally use about a foot and a half per cleaning, which means that one pack will last me close to 100 uses. A five-pack will last me around six months.
Glide has several options, which all run about the same price. The choices include Original, Comfort Plus, Mint, Mint Splash (with Scope) and Deep Clean (with Mint). I have used a couple of these brands and find that they are all minty fresh and comfort oriented, so the differences must be minor. I would recommend all of them, but I normally buy the Deep Clean with Mint most often.
Ultimately, the use of dental floss is to promote healthy gums and prevent gingivitis. As with toothpaste, when confronted with many choices, which one do you choose? My Dentist has always told me to buy my children the brand of toothpaste that has the flavor they like best. It comes down to using the product. If you buy something they (or you) will end up using, then you have accomplished your primary goal. The subtle differences are not as important as the actual act of brushing or flossing. Because Glide is not harsh on my gums and has an excellent flavor, I am inclined to use it regularly. When I was using the other, cheaper brand, I wasn't as inclined to floss as regularly.
Glide dental floss is a superior product that costs a little bit more than some of it's competitors. The floss has a coating of natural wax that helps grip the string and allows it to move smoothly across your gums. The pleasant flavor is an added bonus. My entire mouth feels and tastes clean after I have flossed...even before I get to brushing! For three dollars I get close to 100 uses. That's about three cents per flossing. I am more likely to floss when I have this product available, so it does what it is intended to do. In a nutshell, I recommend Glide dental floss as the best product I have personally used for flossing my teeth. Five stars out of a possible five.
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