More On Dental Floss From Tremont Dental South End Boston Massachusetts

What is Dental Floss Made of?

Did you ever watch the show “Here’s How” when you were a child? It seemed as though the creators of that show knew everything, and they always left you asking questions about the world around you that you never would have asked yourself otherwise. How does the engine in that car run? What lets the trees drink? What is dental floss made of?

The other two questions would take an entire book of their own to explain, but dental floss is a pretty simple concept. Its function is to remove food from the crevices between the teeth in the mouth in order to prevent decay. This concept actually dates back to pre-historic man. Scientists have found skeletons with what appeared to be sticks stuck in their teeth of an appropriate size and shape to have been used to remove food from between the teeth.

Need a Teeth Cleaning? give us a call at (617) 424-060

Bear in mind that ancient humans lived on the meat they were able to capture and cook and the plants of the forest, neither of which feels especially comfortable when it is stuck between the teeth. One has to wonder whether the toothpicks were due to an innate understanding of basic dentistry or if it was simply a matter of being more comfortable.

Dental floss evolved from that point. A dentist in Louisiana was the first to suggest flossing the teeth with the help of a piece of silk thread (which, coincidentally, was the same substance used to stitch up injuries in that time frame). Dental floss evolved from the use of a piece of silk thread into the multi-million dollar industry it is today.

Modern floss is much stronger than its ancestors. It is made from either nylon of Teflon (it was the discovery of nylon’s potential as a flossing material that led to dental floss being internationally recognized and used in homes around the world rather than simply in the dentist’s office). Nylon floss is made by polymerizing nylon salt and then feeding it through a spinneret, twisting the strands.

Made of Teflon?

Teflon is made by creating a polymer of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which is then stretched and cut. Since this polymer is much stronger than nylon it is not necessary to twist multiple strands together. For both, once everything has been cooled and shaped it is ready to be sent out of the nest to do its job-saving the galaxy’s teeth.

Okay, so maybe that doesn’t have quite the same ring to it as saving the galaxy, but there is not doubt that dental floss fills a vital fole in society. It help to prevent tooth decay which can lead to cavities, root canals and possible extraction. It helps people to keep their dental bills to a minimum (although it is still necessary to go to the dentist regularly, flossing habits notwithstanding) and can be used for a number of other functions as well.

Dental Floss Has a Long History

It serves nicely to cut cheese or repair clothing on the road, and its tensile strength make it a great substitute fishing line should you ever find yourself stranded with nothing but a stick and some floss (and hopefully either a hook or some fly fishing skills, as bait could be a bit of a problem).

Dental floss has come a long way. However, its function remains the same, and for this newfound knowledge we must thank our prehistoric ancestors.

To set up an appointment via phone, please give us a call at (617) 424-060