About Dental Floss

Any visit to the dentist will likely result in a friendly reminder to use dental floss as part of your oral hygeine routine. When the hygienist scrapes away at your teeth, you probably renew your committment to floss more regularly. The benefits of flossing are many and the process is a key component of a healthy mouth.

Time Frame

Dental floss isn't that modern of an invention, dating back to 1815. A dentist by the name of Levi Spear Parmly is said to be the first professional to adopt the practice, recommending that his patients use a silk floss to clean between their teeth. But it wasn't until 1882 when a product was actually made available to the public and it took another 17 years for the product to receive a patent by the company of Johnson & Johnson. In the late 1930s, the production moved away from silk to a nylon material, a slightly better economical choice as well as a more effective substance in which to clean the teeth. Today, companies use a more biodegradable nylon version.

Types

There are two basic types of dental floss, string or ribbon. You can find either of these types in a waxed or unwaxed variety in a number of different flavors, from mint to plain. The ribbon floss is wider than string and typically used when a person has some space in between their teeth. This added width will allow for the proper friction needed to clean in between teeth. Needless to say, the string floss is thinner than ribbon and is normally used when a person's teeth come into contact (side by side). The width of the ribbon floss isn't needed to create the friction as the spaces between the teeth are much narrower. Often, you'll hear your dentist or hygienist recommend a lightly waxed floss. The wax will make it easier for you to slide the floss in between the teeth.

Function

Dental floss is used to clean in between the teeth and under the gum line. The ends of the floss are wrapped around the index finger on either hand and the taut floss is slid between the teeth. You pull both ends to one side of the mouth, basically forming a "V." Then move the floss gently down and up the side of the tooth, scraping away the plaque and any food particles that may be present. As you move from tooth to tooth, you simply adjust the floss slightly to the left or right and slide a clean version into the next area.

Warning

You still need to floss even when you brush every day. Plaque can form on those areas of the tooth that cannot be reached by the brush. If left, this plaque will harden and form tartar. Tartar causes gingivitis (among other dental problems), which can result in pockets, or a separation between the tooth and gum. These pockets can ultimately lead to bone loss in the area that holds the tooth in place. Once the bone is lost, your tooth will fall out. This result can be avoided with a 2- to 3-minute flossing after meals. Of course, flossing too vigorously has its own problems, so you should observe practical application of the practice.

Considerations

Even though your dentist extols the importance of both brushing and flossing, most people only subscribe to one, leaving dental floss by the wayside. However, it's one of the most important elements of oral hygiene and only 12 percent of Americans floss on a daily basis, leaving almost 50 percent of people never flossing at all.