Dental floss is a thin wire of nylon, Teflon or polyethylene. Some types of floss are called ‘tape’ floss; this is thicker than regular floss and is used by people with wider gaps between their teeth. Dental floss comes in flavored or unflavored varieties, some is waxed and some comes unwaxed. Waxed floss slides between your teeth with more ease.
Dental floss is used for removing plaque and food that is trapped in the teeth. This thin floss twine is placed between the teeth, close to the gum and gently moved back and forth. This motion scrapes away the plaque and dislodges any food remnants that are stuck there.
A dentist named Levi Spear Parmly, in New Orleans, invented Dental Floss around 1815. He advised his patients that they should clean between their teeth, something that was impossible with a toothbrush. He recommended using thin strands of silk – and dental floss was born. Before this, archaeologists have discovered flossing signs in the teeth of prehistoric man.
It was Johnson & Johnson that first received a patent and began distributing the product widely. Other brands were available, although Johnson & Johnson dominated the early market.
However, Americans did not begin using dental floss as part of their daily dental care regime until after World War 2. Even today, less than half of Americans effectively use dental floss as part of their oral hygiene routine. Even in the animal world, some creatures floss. Macaques have been observed teaching their young to use human hairs as dental floss. So, if the monkeys think it’s important, then you should too.
So how do we humans use dental floss? Generally, you need a length of floss, a mirror and something to rinse your mouth with such as mouthwash or water.
You wrap some of the floss around your hands, leaving a small section in between that you guide gently between two of your teeth. Then curve the floss so that you can clean the area that is situated between your tooth and gum. Each time, the dental floss should meet the gum before scraping down the tooth. This will help to keep your gums healthy, although they may bleed a little the first time few times that you do this. Clean between each of the teeth, working across the entire mouth. Wash your mouth out with water or mouthwash. By flossing your teeth on a daily basis, your teeth and gums will be much healthier.
Dental flossing is the primary and most effective way to defeat gum disease. It has been reported that brushing your teeth alone, leaves 60% of your teeth without the standard of daily care they need. Flossing is a great way to avoid too many expensive trips to the dentist, so picking up some floss the next time you’re at the supermarket is a great way to save yourself money!
By flossing every day, you’ll reduce the risk of bad breath, rotting teeth, gum disease and other associated dental hygiene problems.
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