Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Grooming

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The Best Dental Picks for Healthy, Clean Teeth

By

Let’s cut straight to the chase: flossing is essential. If you’re looking to enhance your dental hygiene and keep those pearly whites clean and pristine, the best dental picks represent an effective method for getting the gunk out of your teeth and reducing plaque build-up, both of which are important in your protection from tooth and gum disease.

We get it. Flossing is something that is easy to skip. It can hurt, cause your gums to bleed, and the floss can even get stuck in your teeth. So, maybe if we brush our teeth more, like three times a day, do we really need to floss? The short answer is yes. Flossing is truthfully the only method we have to stop plaque buildup in its tracks from the confines of our own home.

Recommended Videos

Thankfully, there is more to flossing that just wrapping a polymer string around your finger and working it gently back and forth in between teeth. Dental picks are a gentler, more effective, and time-saving method for getting food and plaque out of your mouth so you can put forth your best smile. These picks come in the shape of everything from soft-bristled brushes that pull debris without force to full-on professional kits with stainless steel scrapers and tartar removers.

Related

We made a compilation of the best dental picks to help you keep those fangs flush and clean, and your dental visits short and sweet.

Dental Duty Professional Dental Hygiene Kit

Dental Duty Professional Dental Hygiene Kit
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This dental kit from Dental Duty is equipped with all the essential tools dentists use to scrape food and plaque from your teeth that you miss during your daily brushing. It includes a dental scaler, a tartar-plaque scraper, and a toothpick that’s more efficient than your everyday toothpicks and dental floss. On top of that, Dental Duty throws in a magnifying dental mirror so you can get to all the hard-to-reach parts of your teeth. Our take is this: These tools present a sure-fire way to get the job done, however, we also think it’s important to note that you still need to be gentle on your teeth and gums, and poking at them safely with a stainless steel hook requires professional skills.

Gum Soft-Picks Original Dental Picks

Gum Soft-Picks Original Dental Picks
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This brand is featured among our best dental picks because it offers a highly effective and gentle method for removing dental plaque in between the teeth and on the gum line (where tooth decay and gum disease usually starts). These soft-pick flossers, or trees, boast soft, flexible bristles that gently dislodge debris from your mouth and help you reach your desired high level of mouth cleanliness, especially if you suffer from sensitive teeth or a receding gum line.

Plackers Twin-Line Dental Floss Picks

Plackers Twin-Line Dental Floss Picks
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’re going to floss the old-fashioned way, you want to at least ensure you’re getting the most out of your work. Plackers offers a two-line, dental floss pick that is designed to easily slide between your teeth and ensure no food gets left behind while using an advanced whitening mint solution that brightens the enamel on your teeth and finishes with a fresh, clean feeling. It also features a tartar pick located on the handle to reach tough angles and remove excess debris and plaque.

Editors' Recommendations

Bryan Holt
Bryan Holt
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Bryan Holt is a writer, editor, designer, and multimedia storyteller based in Portland, Oregon. He is a graduate from the…
Is coffee bad for teeth? Dentists explain how you can keep your pearly whites healthy
Is coffee bad for teeth? What dentists want you to know about your favorite morning habit
a close up of tons of coffee beans

Is coffee bad for teeth? You may not want to know the answer, preferring to "Hear no evil, see no evil."

After all, drinking coffee can be a lifeline during the morning grind. Even studies show coffee consumption can have significant benefits. A 2021 study showed that drinking coffee could decrease stroke and dementia risk. Another published in the same year found coffee consumption could lower a person's chance of heart failure.

Read more
Father’s Day gift guide: The best grooming products for dad
Every dad can use some pampering on Father's Day — Check out our favorite gifts to give him to do just that
Man shaving against the grain.

Father’s Day is all but here. While it shouldn’t take a commercial holiday to show Dad some love, Father's Day serves as a reminder that our father figures: dads, grandpas, brothers, cousins, nephews, or any paternal figure, can use some TLC, especially when it comes to their grooming routine. After all, there has been a growing trend the past few years as more men are placing a greater emphasis on their grooming routine.

To encourage your dad to practice some much-needed self-care, we rounded up the best grooming products to give to your father or father-adjacent loved one. Any dad will definitely appreciate being gifted products they can actually use day to day. Here are our favorite Father's Day grooming gifts.

Read more
How to properly use an electric toothbrush
electric Goby toothbrush

Taking care of your teeth is essential to maintaining good oral hygiene. While a manual toothbrush can get the job done, an electric toothbrush can provide a deeper clean and take some guesswork out of brushing. 

If you're new to using an electric toothbrush, don't worry! With a bit of practice, you'll soon become a pro. In this guide, we'll share some expert tips on using an electric toothbrush to get the most out of your brushing routine.

Read more