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Because your gums are important, too.

Every morning, without fail, I begrudgingly head to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I do the same, regardless of what I did throughout the day (stupors included), before I hit the sheets. Sometimes, perhaps thrice a week, I will gargle with mouthwash. But what I often fail to do, to my detriment, is floss.

My mother, Vivian Ward, and every dentist out there have all extolled the importance of flossing. But to give us all a refresher, I reached out to Dr. Stephanie Dumanian from Park Lex 60 Dental in New York. “Flossing is important to maintain healthy gums, to preserve the bone around your teeth and to keep your gums from bleeding,” she says. “It also helps prevent cavities since it removes plaque from those hard-to-reach places.”

Basically, the practice should be added to my daily routine. I know this, but I need to put thought into action. And the place to start is by getting my hands on the best floss out there. According to Dr. Dumanian, most flossing products available are “quite good.” The one characteristic she does say to look out for, however, is the density of the string. “If the flossing product is too thick it can shred, break or leave fiber strands between your teeth,” she says. “Unless you have large gaps in your teeth.”

So, to make sure I’m headed down the right path, I asked the good dentist to give her top recommendations for the best floss. And should you be like me and need to amp up your oral care (or have kiddos that need to learn the importance of flossing regularly), take a look at the list below.

Not only does the micro-groove technology grab double the plaque it grabs, it is also one of Dr. Dumanian's favorites because "it is thin and doesn't shred or break."

You may be the type of guy who likes thing all-natural, which, more often than not, makes it tough to find products that fit your lifestyle. But don't fret; when it comes the best, all-natural floss, any of the vegan goods from Radius is just a mouse click away. And this one is travel-ready, too.

Are you new to flossing and not sure to handle the string? A floss pick is what you need, and this one from DenTek is tops. "These are great for people who are not consistent with flossing since they make flossing that much easier," says Dr. Dumanian. "It’s a great beginner’s floss and disposable so you can even keep them at your bedside."

Oral-B doesn't just offer regular floss, but super floss. "These are ideal if you have bridges or implants that you are cleaning around," says Dr. Dumanian. "They are like pipe cleaners; the bristles help pick up plaque and debris in between your teeth."

Another great floss for implants, specifically braces, is this one from GUM. It is designed like a needle that threads through the wire, removing build-up effectively.

We expect coconut oil in most skincare products. But in a floss? Now that's something new. But before you think of it as a mere novelty, the ingredient, as it does for your face, will exfoliate your gums while soothing them at the same time.

"These are a bit thicker, but they come in different flavors that are good to encourage flossing, especially for younger people," Dr. Dumanian. "The vegan and cruelty-free aspect is also very interesting for people who care about being eco-friendly."

If you're an adult who can't handle string floss, imagine how it feels for kids. To get you little one started, get these colorful no-fuss floss picks.

"Glide Crest is another favorite," says Dr. Dumanian. "They are thin and don’t shred. They get the job done!"