Fun Floss Facts, Part 2.

Mass- produced silk floss, first available in 1882, was made by the Randolf, Massachusetts-based Codman and Shurleft Company.

When used properly, floss breaks up and removes plaque masses so they can't grow, organize, and mature into more efficient, self-perpetuating, microbiological colonies that can cause dental problems like dental caries, gingivitis, and bone loss, and may contribute to systemic problems like diabetes, heart disease, and premature birth because excessive amounts of bacteria can enter into the bloodstream through ulcerated gum tissues.

Wash the hands well, maybe even twice, before flossing to reduce the amount of germs introduced by otherwise dirty fingers. If the hands can't be washed, use gloves to floss hygienically.

A New Orleans dentist, Levi Spear Parmly, is credited with inventing the original form of floss in silk form  in 1815. He was born on August 29, 1790 in Braintree, Vermont.

Some floss manufacturers include sodium fluoride or other antimicrobial ingredients into the coatings of their products for additional therapeutic benefits.

The WaterPik Power Flosser FLA-220 uses a mint-coated tip that is of adequate length, to  place between teeth, and oscillates about 10,000 times per minute to clean and whiten areas between the teeth and gums.

The Bryton Pick, available at brytonpick.com, is a small, super thin, flexible, germ-resistant, stainless steel plate that is vertically placed between the teeth to remove dental plaque. It can be reused for up to thirty days.

Floss threaders are large, soft plastic needles through which floss can be strung and then used to clean under fixed bridges, fixed retainers, and between braces and teeth.

Dessert Essence coats its floss with extracts from the same tree, the Melaleuca alternifolia tree (over 200 species), that some Australian Aborigines used for medicinal purposes. It contains dozens of beneficial compounds, and is the source of tea tree oil, which is revered by many people around the world for its anti-fungal, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties.

In 1994, enough floss, almost three million miles of it, was purchased by the public, which is more than enough to encircle the Earth at the equator more than one hundred times!

Your Dentist and Hygienist can help choose the right floss for you. See both of them often.

May you have many…silly string, floss is the boss… smiles