Dental floss is a bundle of thin threads used for removing food debris and plaque from between teeth, in areas that a toothbrush cannot reach.
Approximately 40% of the tooth surface is made up of the interproximal spaces, areas where regular brushing cannot effectively remove dental plaque (a film of microorganisms). As the build-up of dental plaque between the teeth is the main cause of dental diseases such as gingivitis, halitosis and tooth decay, the use of dental floss is frequently recommended by dentists to prevent the development of these high-risk conditions.
When dental spacing does not allow the use of a toothbrush, whether due to crowded natural teeth, tight contacts on prosthetic work, or gingival embrasures that completely cover the dental papilla, dental floss is used for cleaning the proximal surfaces.
Are you curious to find out how dental floss came about and who invented it?
Ata dentara a fost inventată în 1815 de către medicul dentist din New Orleans, Levi Spear Parmly.
Over the years, anthropologists have found increasing evidence that ancient humans used various tools, such as sharpened sticks for interdental cleaning.
According to most sources, the invention of dental floss, as we know it today, is attributed to Levi Spear Parmly, a dentist from New Orleans who, in 1819, began advising his patients to use a thin silk thread to clean the space between their teeth. He considered this to be the most important part of oral care.
When was dental floss patented?
The idea caught on, and in 1882, a company called Codman and Shurtleft Company, based in Randolph, Massachusetts, began to market sterile silk dental floss. In 1896, the firm Johnson & Johnson obtained the patent for dental floss. Initially, it was designed as a single, thin thread of silk, much like the silk thread used by surgeons for sutures.
1940s – 1950s – the decade of innovation
The 1940s–1950s are considered the years of innovation in the evolution of dental floss. During the 1940s, silk was replaced by nylon, a material with superior properties that also allowed it to be combined with wax to invent waxed dental floss. Also in the 1950s, the first ribbon-type dental floss was created from nylon.
Starting from 1950, the variety of dental floss types has expanded to include new materials and technologies. One of the modern materials used in dental floss technology is Gore-Tex, and over time, countless types of dental floss have appeared: waxed/unwaxed, thread/tape, soft/hard, with/without flavours, with/without antiseptic substances.
Dental floss today
It is widely accepted that flossing has a beneficial effect on plaque removal and disease prevention, and the American Dental Association states that up to 80% of dental plaque can be removed using this method.
In these modern times, a crucial part of a healthy daily routine for maintaining oral health is brushing twice a day, daily flossing, and regular use of mouthwash.
Ata dentară ar trebui utilizată zilnic, ideal după fiecare periaj dentar, pentru a îndepărta resturile alimentare şi placa bacteriană dintre dinţi şi de sub linia gingivală, locuri unde periuţa de dinţi nu poate ajunge.
Matthew Nejad, a dentist and professor at the Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, recommends that we floss before brushing our teeth.
Using dental floss before brushing your teeth helps to remove food debris and plaque that accumulates between teeth and under the gums, making it easier for your toothbrush to clean them away afterwards. Removing food debris and plaque is a key factor in preventing cavities, gum disease, and bad breath.
Bibliography
https://oralb.com/en-us/oral-health/dental-floss-history
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_floss
https://www.self.com/story/floss-brush-teeth-dental-health