Flossing your teeth might feel like such a chore that you avoid it — and perhaps even fib to your dentist about it. Nevertheless, flossing helps mitigate the risk of experiencing gum disease symptoms. The real drawback of flossing is that conventional plastic flosser picks are not eco-friendly. Board-certified pediatric dentist Dr. Staci Whitman, a “Shark Tank” entrepreneur, champions sustainable flossing solutions.
Whitman’s episode was broadcast in March 2023 during Season 14. She began her pitch by demonstrating the magnitude of plastic waste, dropping thousands of plastic flosser picks. Once she caught the sharks’ interest, she introduced Happi Floss Flossers. Crafted from recycled paper layers, these flossers were durable enough for a single use yet designed to decompose within a year.
After distributing Happi Floss Flossers, Whitman requested $200,000 for a 10% stake in her venture. The sharks were skeptical. She lacked consistent sales to justify a $2 million valuation with only 5,000 units produced. Additionally, she needed specialized equipment to manufacture millions of flossers and faced patent challenges in the U.S. due to competition from The Humble Co.
Ultimately, Whitman exited “Shark Tank” without a deal. However, the story of her invention did not entirely end there.
Pressing Forward with Fundraising After Shark Tank
Following “Shark Tank,” Whitman explored the possibility of public support for her product via traditional crowdfunding. Unsurprisingly, as the Portland, Oregon-based dentist who stated in a 2021 KGW News interview that she desired “guilt-free flossing for everyone,” she launched an Indiegogo campaign after her “Shark Tank” appearance. (This marked her second Indiegogo attempt; the first was around 2021 as a proof of concept test.) A video on the Happi Floss Flossers homepage features Whitman urging consumers to back her company through the Indiegogo campaign “not only for your oral health but for our planet’s well-being.”
As of early 2025, her second Indiegogo campaign appears to be closed according to both the Indiegogo and Happi Floss Flossers websites. Nevertheless, the original page remains visible, showing pledges of $29,931, which is slightly over half of the intended (though flexible) $50,000 target.
Little Evidence of Sales Momentum for Happi Floss
The Indiegogo shortfall might indicate that Whitman was unable to secure sufficient funds for customized equipment, especially since her Happi Floss Flossers shopping page notes that the product is unavailable. However, the shopping page advises following the company’s related Instagram accounts for updates.
The only issue? The first Instagram account, @HappiFloss, hasn’t posted updates since 2023. Although @DrStaci remains active as of 2025 (with a respectable 125K followers), its focus seems more on Whitman’s holistic healthcare mission than on providing updates about Happi Floss Flossers.
Could Happi Floss Flossers have found another path to market? A brief online search yields no evidence that Happi Floss Flossers overcame their funding challenges to become a viable business.
Nevertheless, The Humble Co. — the other competitor Whitman mentioned on Shark Tank — offers a line of plant-based flossers claimed to be composed of over 50% plant-based materials. While they’re not Happi Floss Flossers, they present an option for customers seeking a more environmentally friendly flosser until and unless Happi Floss Flossers reemerges.
If you’re uncertain whether to use a floss pick or traditional floss, you might consider opting for floss and forgoing the pick. Just ensure you floss regularly to avoid the temptation to deceive your dentist about it.
