Is a Water Flosser Better Than String Floss?

Q: Is a water flosser better than string floss?

In a randomized clinical study of 70 adults, a water flosser with a manual toothbrush removed 74.4% of whole mouth plaque, compared with 57.7% for string floss with a manual toothbrush. The better tool is the one you will use every day.

12 ottobre 2026

Short answer

In a head to head clinical study, a water flosser removed more plaque than string floss. In that randomized study of 70 adults, a water flosser used with a manual toothbrush removed 74.4% of whole mouth plaque, compared with 57.7% for string floss with a manual toothbrush. The better tool for you is the one you will use every day.

What did the study find?

The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Dentistry in 2013. Seventy adults were randomly assigned to one of two groups: a water flosser plus a manual toothbrush, or waxed string floss plus a manual toothbrush. Plaque was scored before and after use.

Plaque removed	Water flosser	String floss
Whole mouth	74.4%	57.7%
Between the teeth	81.6%	63.4%

The authors concluded that the water flosser was 29% more effective than string floss for overall plaque removal.

Who should use a water flosser?

String floss depends on technique. It has to be worked around each tooth, which is hard with braces, bridges or limited hand movement. A cordless water flosser only needs to be aimed along the gumline. If you find string floss awkward and skip it, a water flosser you use daily will do more for you than floss that stays in the drawer.

Who should stick with string floss?

String floss needs no charging or water and fits in a pocket. If you already floss every day with good technique, there is no need to stop. A woven floss is an option if you find standard floss slippery. Some people use both a water flosser and string floss.