Zero Waste Floss: 4 Plastic-free, Sustainable Alternatives

Ever heard of zero waste floss? Yes, it exists! When I first went zero waste, I was determined to get rid of every single piece of plastic in my life (which I now realize is idealistic and unrealistic). So when I realized floss was made of plastic, I got really excited because it gave me a good excuse not to floss anymore. I’ve always hated flossing! But when I found out there were plastic-free, sustainable alternatives to conventional floss…well, I didn’t have an excuse anymore. Plus, my mom’s a dental assistant, so there’s no way I’m getting away with no flossing under her roof. Needless to say, plastic-free, zero waste floss solved both these issues flawlessly. My mom’s happy, and now I’m happy (well, sort of – at least in terms of avoiding needless plastic). In all seriousness though, it’s estimated 3 million miles of dental floss is purchased per year in America alone! Plus, it takes up to 1000 years to decompose, and during that time, it can wreck havoc on the environment by seeping toxins into our earth. Here are four zero waste floss brands worth checking out. Lets ditch plastic floss together! 

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Here are the top four plastic-free, zero waste floss brands I recommend. All of them are plastic-free and compostable. There are two vegan options I list (#1 and #2), so feel free to jump to those right away. I’m sure there are plenty more brands out there, but these are my personal favorites. No matter which one you choose, you can’t go wrong.

Dental Lace is my personal favorite zero waste floss. I got it for my birthday about two years ago and I’ve been hooked ever since. It’s not only plastic-free, but also refillable. There’s also a vegan option available (with vegan refills).

There are two variations of Dental Lace: Silk floss and vegan floss. I have the silk floss, which is completely compostable after use. The vegan floss is made from bamboo charcoal and polyester, so it’s sadly not compostable.

That said, both the silk and vegan versions come in a lovely glass container with a metal top that’s 100 percent recyclable. You also get two 33 yard spools of floss with your initial purchase, so you won’t have to buy any refills for a while. Both the silk floss and vegan floss are coated in candellia wax that has a pleasant mint flavor.

The box the glass dental floss comes in is made from 100 percent post consumer fiber. The box is also certified FSC and PCF free. It’s even manufactured using renewable biogas energy. Last but not least, it’s printed with soy-based inks. Impressive, right?

Inside the box, you’ll notice the spool of floss is encased in a little bag – this isn’t plastic. It’s a polylactide acid bag created from the lactic acid in plants. It’s certified compostable, which means all of Dental Lace’s packaging is completely compostable. Including their silk floss!

Personally, I prefer the silk floss simply because it’s completely compostable, but it’s nice they offer a vegan option even if it’s not completely plastic-free. They are working on a completely compostable vegan option though, so keep your eyes peeled!

If you’re looking for completely vegan, plastic-free dental floss, get ready to clap your hands. Lucky Teeth has you covered!

This zero waste floss is made from bamboo fibre with activated charcoal, candelilla plant wax, organic peppermint oil and organic tea tree oil. The tea tree helps make this floss antibacterial, while the peppermint creates a cooling effect that inhibits bacteria that cause tooth decay.

The best part about this vegan floss? It’s 100 percent biodegradable and will break down in 60 to 90 days.

There’s no plastic in sight! It comes in a really cute glass container with a metal lid, very similar to Dental Lace floss. I also like how they offer refills.

Lucky Teeth packages their zero waste floss in a simple cardboard/paper box. This makes it easy to compost or recycle. Overall, this is definitely the best option for vegans looking to avoid plastic of any kind.

Looking for silk floss that’s relatively cheap? TreeBird is definitely one of the more cost effective zero waste floss options out there.

Similar to Dental Lace, this compostable silk floss comes in a glass bottle with a metal top that can be refilled over and over again. Each spool is 33 yards long and is coated with candelilla wax and has a subtle mint flavor.

The glass jar comes packaged in a kraft paper box with two transparent plant-based compostable stickers on there so no dust can get into the box. The ink is also soy based.

I really love how this floss is much cheaper than the other options on this list but still holds up in terms of value. Certainly worth a purchase in my book!

Prefer to avoid glass in the bathroom? Wowe has your back: They package their silk floss in a stainless steel container instead.

We all know glass can easily break the moment you drop it. However, stainless steel is extremely durable and will last a lifetime, even if you do drop it. That makes this floss great for those who might have little kids running around in the bathroom.

Wowe floss comes with three refills, each 33 yards long for a total of 99 yards. Because the floss is made from silk, you can easily compost it after use. They’re coated with candelilla wax and have a gentle mint flavor.

If you need more refills (and not another stainless steel case), they do offer a package of refills only. However, it’s currently unavailable – you could easily purchase Dental Lace refills and fit them into this one though, without a problem.

They package the stainless steel container in kraft packaging which is made from recycled material and also easy to compost.

Another really cool tidbit about Wowe? They’ve partnered with One Tree Planted to donate 1 percent of sales to bring trees to areas that have experienced deforestation. It’s always awesome to see companies giving back!

• Water pik – This is basically an electronic water flosser. Similar to when you visit the dentist, it uses a powerful jet stream to clean your teeth. It’s also considered three times as effective as dental floss. This is a great option for anyone who has braces!
  
  
• Compostable thread – It may sound odd, but if you have an old cotton or silk shirt, just unravel the threads and use them to floss your teeth. Once you’ve used it, you can just toss it in the compost.
  
  
• Horse hair – Believe it or not, ancient people used to use horse hair all the time to floss their teeth. If you have horses, feel free to borrow a strand to clean your teeth. Obviously this isn’t for everyone (personally, I’ve never done it, nor do I really want to), but it’s always helpful knowing all your options.

For more zero waste dental care tips, be sure to check out my zero waste toothpaste recipe or my DIY zero waste mouthwash.

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