String Saga: A History of Dental Floss

If you’re reading this, you probably already know that flossing twice daily is an important part of your daily dental hygiene routine. It removes harmful bacteria and plaque buildup from between your teeth and along your gums to prevent dental issues like decay or disease.

Did you know, however, that dental floss has a long and fascinating history? Thoroughly cleaning your smile to keep it safe hasn’t always been as simple or convenient as it is in our world today. If you’re interested, keep reading to learn more about it!

Prehistoric Picks

The earliest known instances of humans wanting to reach between their teeth can be traced to our ancient ancestors. Pearly whites discovered at prehistoric sites have been found with grooves in them from the first rudimentary attempts at flossing and picking. It’s believed that these people used twigs and horsehair to dislodge anything trapped between them.  

Silky Start

After that, there weren’t any notable advancements in flossing techniques until 1815. That year in New Orleans, an American dentist named Levi Spear Parmly introduced the idea of using waxed silken thread as floss. He was looking for ways to remove pieces of food from his mouth that he couldn’t dislodge with his toothbrush alone. He began sharing this knowledge with patients and then wrote a book about the importance of flossing titled Practical Guide to the Management of Teeth.

Mass Materials

Although the idea of floss began to spread, it wasn’t widely available to many people until 1882 when the company Codman & Shurtleff began selling unwaxed silk floss in their stores. However, it was a different company (Johnson & Johnson) that was granted the first patent for dental floss in 1898 which resulted in more commercially available products.

During World War II, the price of silk rose and so it became a less accessible material. That’s why in the 1940s, Dr. Charles Bass developed nylon to use in its place. This updated composition was convenient not only for cost purposes but also because it didn’t shred as easily and could glide better across teeth.

Present Progression

Since then, the field of dentistry has continued to progress, and dental floss is no exception. More recent advancements in technology and techniques have allowed for a wide variety of ways to clean your teeth. Whether you need softer floss for sensitive gums, special flossers to scrub around orthodontics, or prefer a Waterpik, you have a myriad of options to choose from.

Thanks to continual advancements in dental care, it’s easy to find the right floss to keep your smile happy and healthy!

About the Author

Dr. Steven Kendrick provides a full array of dental services to help patients improve their oral health. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Oklahoma City University and then achieved his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the Oklahoma University College of Dentistry. Today, he uses state-of-the-art technology to enhance patient comfort and increase the accuracy of treatment results. Whether you require a simple checkup and routine cleaning or need a more complex service like dental implants, he is an expert who can help! If you’re worried you may have developed gum disease, you can request an appointment on the website or by calling (405) 732-0431.