Patient preference for waxed or unwaxed dental floss

Area of Science:

• Dental hygiene
• Consumer product preference

Background:

• Patient preferences for dental floss types are not well-documented.
• Existing beliefs may favor unwaxed floss without substantial evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine patient preference between waxed and unwaxed dental floss.
• To investigate patient flossing habits and purchasing behaviors.

Main Methods:

• 180 patients sampled similar-looking waxed and unwaxed floss brands.
• Participants indicated preference and answered questionnaires on flossing habits.
• A subset compared flavored vs. plain waxed floss.

Main Results:

• 78-79% of patients preferred waxed floss in initial brand comparisons.
• A significant portion (56%) preferred mint-flavored waxed floss over plain.
• Only 29.5% of patients flossed daily; 57.5% purchased waxed floss for home use.

Conclusions:

• Patient preference strongly favors waxed dental floss.
• Flossing frequency is lower than ideal, despite preference for waxed floss.
• Marketing and patient education should consider these preferences and habits.