The American Dental Association recommends that people brush their teeth twice a day and clean between their teeth at least once a day with dental floss. It's no secret that many people neglect the second part of that recommendation despite constant warnings from their dentist. If you're one of our patients in Turlock, you know how much we emphasize flossing at our practice. We're not trying to be judgmental, but it's essential to good oral health, which is why we thought we'd dedicate this post to teaching our readers more about it.
Dental Floss: A Brief History
Ancient humans recognized the value of flossing and left evidence behind of primitive sticks, bones, and fibers they used routinely to clean between their teeth. However, it may surprise you to know that---relative to human history---advocates of modern flossing practices as we know them didn't start gaining traction until fairly recently.
A dentist from New Orleans named Dr. Levi Spear Parmly is considered the forefather of many modern dental prevention concepts. He is usually credited with inventing the first form of modern dental floss. In 1815, Dr. Parmly began recommending that people use thin, resilient silk floss to clean between their teeth. Dental floss was patented in the United States in 1876, and a company in Massachusetts named Codman and Shurtleff sold the first commercial dental floss in 1882.
The American public adopted dental floss slowly. It wasn't until the 1940s that it picked up in popularity. This was mostly thanks to a medical doctor, and not a dentist. Dr. Charles C. Bass studied the relationship of oral health to the body's overall wellbeing extensively. Like Dr. Parmly, he is also credited with many modern dental prevention techniques. Dr. Bass is well known for developing nylon floss, which was a better alternative to silk because of its texture and elasticity.
Today, dental floss use is still far too low. According to the Journal of the American Dental Association, only about 10-40% of Americans use dental floss on a daily basis. Dentists can't make you floss your teeth regularly, but we will definitely be here when you don't.
How Important is Flossing?
The Academy of General Dentistry says that flossing is the single most important thing you can do to prevent plaque buildup. Using floss to remove debris between your teeth also helps you control bad breath, polishes your teeth, and keeps your gums healthy by preventing periodontal disease. It only takes a few minutes each day, and believe us, those few minutes spent flossing are worth it. As dentists, we've seen the worst of what happens when people neglect flossing. Collectively, about 3 million miles of dental floss are purchased each year in the United States, but we often wonder how many of those miles are actually used.
Should You Brush or Floss First?
Whether you brush or floss first matters less than just making sure you thoroughly floss once a day. The ADA, however, does say that flossing before you brush may allow fluoride from your toothpaste to reach between your teeth more easily.
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