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Say goodbye to slippery string floss (and sticking your fingers in your mouth).

Erica Kam is a freelance contributor for HuffPost Shopping based in New York City.

Still, flossing is crucial for reducing the presence of plaque — the bacterial buildup that can lead to tooth decay and gum disease, according to our previous reporting. if the experience of flossing has been less than ideal for you, the solution may just be a simple product swap. Below, you’ll find string floss alternatives beloved by dentists and reviewers that can not only help you floss more effectively, but possibly even motivate you to floss more regularly. Your dentist may thank you — after all, they can tell when you don’t floss.

We found reviewers calling these soft interdental brushes "better than dental floss, and they became a bestseller among our readers soon after. They're sold in packs of 300 for under $10, so you'll be set for a while. The soft bristles are flexible, and the handle is anti-slip, providing an easier way to get those pesky food particles from between your teeth (without having to stick your fingers in your mouth). The brushes are also nice and small, making them easier to take on the go than a water flosser, even a portable one.

Get them from Amazon for $8.99 (available in six colors).

Water flossing can be helpful for those with braces and orthodontics, or those who have trouble holding string floss, according to the Mayo Clinic. In a previous story, we asked dentists about the effectiveness of water flossing, who said that while it can't totally replace mechanical flossing, it's good as an extra step for removing loose food particles.

So which water flosser should you use? "I typically prefer a corded option as opposed to a cordless option mainly because of the power and strength of the pressure," Dr. Lauren Becker, a general and cosmetic dentist based in New York City, said in that story. "Over time, I find that cordless water floss options lose their pressure strength."

She added that she recommends the Philips Sonicare Power Flosser 3000 to her patients. This flosser has two modes and 10 intensities, with a 550-milliliter water reservoir. The flosser is designed to shoot out four streams of water to give your mouth a deeper clean, and the pulse wave feature can help guide your flossing routine. The flosser comes with an extra nozzle for when it's time to replace.

Obviously, it's difficult to pack a bulky corded water flosser in your suitcase. In that same story, while Becker said she prefers a plugged-in model, she added, "I do think cordless flossers are helpful when traveling to keep up with hygiene you typically do at home."

Becker, along with dentists Dr. Michael J. Wei and Dr. Pia Lieb all recommended Waterpik water flossers, with both Wei and Becker specifically suggesting the brand's popular Cordless Advanced 2.0 model for travel.

"It is a bit on the pricier side," Wei admitted, "but worth the investment for that extra thoroughness in your oral care routine."

The cordless Waterpik's battery can last up to four weeks before needing a charge, and a travel bag is included with your purchase. The 7-ounce reservoir provides up to 45 seconds of flossing time. There are three pressure settings, four specialty tips and 360-degree tip rotation to reach all the nooks and crannies. Water flossing has never been so easy.

Get it from Amazon for $79.99 (available in five colors).

If you want the ease of a floss pick without the volume of disposable waste, as well as an easier handle, an electric flosser might be for you. This battery-powered offering from Slate was invented by a dentist and uses 12,000 vibrations per minute to effectively floss between your teeth. The floss heads, which are reusable for up to a week, also act as tongue scrapers and gum brushes, so you're getting your whole mouth clean. The gadget comes in two colors.

Promising review: "I’ve never been great about flossing—it's one of those things I always avoided. But this electric flosser has genuinely helped me stay consistent. It’s simple to use, way less of a hassle than string floss, and doesn’t feel like a chore.

I also like that it came with extra tools like the gum stimulator and tongue scraper. What really makes it easier to stick with is how convenient it is to buy refill heads when I need them. Overall, it's made a part of dental care that I used to dread feel doable." — Sheldon

"These floss picks are also a great choice, especially when you're on the go and need to get something out of your teeth quickly, like in the car or after eating," Wei previously said of the Oral-B Glide Scope Outlast floss picks. The picks are made of a micro-textured fiber and are flavored with mint to leave you feeling fresh and clean. These aren't meant to be used for your whole mouth, given that there's a limited amount of string per pick, but they can provide a better grip for your hands than thin, slippery string floss to make getting in between your teeth easier.

Flossing without using your hands sounds strange, but Gfloss's hands-free flossers can be used by moving the little tool with your tongue. Reviewers love them for the ability to floss without sticking their fingers in their mouth (and their usefulness for people with arthritis), as well as how the fun of them motivates them to floss more regularly. Like floss picks, they're probably best for when you're in a pinch, like during travel or in between meals. Just note that they could present a choking hazard for young kids, and are meant to be used by adults.

Promising review: "Obsessed with this floss. The hands-free design is genius and makes flossing so quick and easy. It’s comfortable, doesn’t hurt my gums, and actually works. I’m way more consistent with flossing now because of this. Total game changer—highly recommend!" —Erika Holland

Get a 40-pack from Amazon for $8.99 (also available in a 120-pack).

Former shopping writer Haley Zovickian previously wrote about her love of the Mouthwatchers flossing toothbrushes, which have super-thin bristles to help them get into tight spaces for a deeper clean.

"Within about a week of switching from a regular brush to this one, my previously coffee-stained teeth looked markedly whiter, my plaque was less visible and my gums looked healthier,"  Zovickian wrote. "My mouth also feels remarkably cleaner, a result that reviewers echo. I can’t help but feel that this model is toothbrushing the way it should be." The brushes don't go deep enough to replace flossing, as reviewers confirm, but they do help in between by dislodging debris.

Contributor Shawna Hudson was disillusioned by bulky countertop water flossers that aren't travel-friendly, and the Soocas Neos II Ultra presented a great solution, she shared in a review. "The thoughtful design of this handy two-in-one device is sleek and slimmer than a traditional water flosser," she wrote. "And while it’s still heavier and slightly bigger than your average electric toothbrush, it’s not so big to where it’s unmanageable."

Equipped with two modes, the device is both an electric toothbrush and a water flosser, which Hudson called "top-tier." top-tier. "It basically feels like a power washer for your teeth. The water tank on the back of the brush is super easy to fill and doesn’t run out while you’re brushing either," she said. 

The brush comes with two brush heads, a travel case and a charging cable (one charge lasts up to 30 days). "I’m totally in love with how easy to use this device is and how expertly it cleans my teeth. As a frequent traveler who likes to consolidate as much as possible, this is also going to be game-changing for me moving forward," Hudson wrote. You can get it in two colors.

If you've got a kid with braces who's been resistant to flossing because of how difficult their orthodontics make it (or perhaps you have some orthodontics of your own), these flossers are designed for that very conundrum. Designed with a brush on one end and a floss pick on the other, this one has a special spatula that can slide under the arch wire for more thorough flossing than traditional string floss would be able to do in that tight space. And according to reviewers, the tweens approve.

Promising review: "An absolute must have for anyone with braces. It has a size that you can use to get in between the brackets. My daughter struggled for a little bit until we found the right products for her to be able to use with her braces and this is one that has been an absolute game changer and helping her keep her teeth clean with the braces on, would recommend to anybody with braces." —marissa

Get a 40-count pack from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in larger pack sizes).