National Flossing Day!!

November 23rd, 2012

Daily flossing is a requirement for healthy teeth and gums. Thorough flossing removes the plaque and food debris between your teeth that your toothbrush may not. It also

Happy National Flossing Day!!

increases blood circulation in your gum tissue to help prevent periodontal disease.

Flossing is a critical technique for a healthy smile, but it has a fair share of interesting facts, as well.

Fun Facts about Flossing:

–Flossing has been credited to Levi Spear Parmly, a New Orleans Dentist, in 1815. He advised his patients to use a thin silk thread to clean between their teeth.

–Floss was manufactured commercially for the first time in 1882. Codman and Shurtleft Company began marketing unwaxed silk dental floss. Johnson & Johnson released their first silk floss product in 1896 and patented dental floss in 1898.

–During the 1940’s, the physician Dr. Charles Bass found that nylon material is better for flossing than silk. The silk often shredded when going between teeth. Nylon has a consistent texture and better resistance. This led to the development of waxed floss and dental tape. In response to environmental concerns, dental floss made from biodegradable materials is now available on the market.

–Proper flossing requires the average person to use approximately 120 yards of floss per year. Manufacturers data shows that only an average of 18 yards is sold per person each year.

–Dentists and dental hygienists recommend the daily oral hygiene regimen of tooth brushing and flossing. Almost all Americans brush their teeth daily. However, the ADA indicates that only about 12% of Americans floss daily, 39% floss less than daily, and almost 50% do not floss at all.

–Occasional flossing or flossing improperly can typically lead to bleeding gums. The main cause of the bleeding is inflammation of the gingival tissue due to gingivitis (the earliest form of periodontal disease).

It comes in many forms – waxed, unwaxed, flavored, unflavored, wide, and regular. All floss works the same, but only if you use it properly.