The History of Dental Floss

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Last updated 08/26 Share

Who Invented Dental Floss?
When Was Dental Floss Invented?
Dental Floss Innovations (1940-1950)
Dental Floss Today
Science worth a scroll.
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Over the years, anthropologists have found evidence that ancient people used various implements such as pointed sticks for interdental cleaning.

Who Invented Dental Floss?

But according to most sources, credit for the invention of dental floss as we know it goes to a New Orleans dentist, who in 1815 began advising his patients to use a thin silk thread to clean between their teeth.

When Was Dental Floss Invented?

The idea caught on, and in 1882 a company called the Codman and Shurtleft Company, based in Randolph, Massachusetts, began marketing an unwaxed silk dental floss. This was followed in 1896 by the first dental floss from Johnson & Johnson. The New Jersey-based J&J took out a patent for dental floss in 1898 that was made from the same silk material used by doctors for silk stitches.

Dental Floss Innovations (1940-1950)

During the 1940s, nylon replaced silk as the material for dental floss. Its consistent texture and resistance to shredding were an improvement over the silk versions. The use of nylon also allowed for the development of waxed floss in the 1940s, and for the development of dental tape in the 1950s.

Dental Floss Today

Since then, the variety of types of dental floss has expanded to include newer materials such as Gore-Tex, and different textures such as spongy floss and soft floss. And today's floss has other features to make flossing easier. For example, floss with stiffened ends is designed to help with flossing around braces or other dental appliances.

Today, floss is a key part of twice daily brushing, daily flossing, and regular use of a mouthwash that make up a healthy routine for maintaining your oral health.

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Dental Floss Picks - Alternative for Dental Flossing

Are you frustrated when using standard dental floss? Do you find long pieces of floss difficult to handle, especially when you’re reaching behind your back teeth? If so, you’ll be glad to learn that there are other ways to floss your teeth.

Dental Floss Types - The Pros and Cons

The choices for a product as basic as dental floss can seem overwhelming, but you can’t go wrong with a choice of floss as long as you use it every day.

Types of Floss - Choosing the Right Floss for You

There are many types of dental floss and there is no one “right” floss for everyone. In fact, there’s no reason why you can’t have several types of floss and flossing products on hand.

When To Start Flossing

When you use a fluoride toothpaste, you’re strengthening your tooth enamel, which helps to prevent tooth decay. Fluoride can also help repair teeth that have suffered minor tooth decalcification (first step in the breakdown of the tooth surface).

How to Use Dental Floss

Flossing is one of those daily tasks that feels optional, so oftentimes it gets skipped. But that thin string does some big things.

What did people do before flossing?

Anthropological evidence shows that ancient people used different tools, like pointed sticks, for cleaning between their teeth.

Was floss invented by a dentist?

Yes. Most sources credit a New Orleans dentist with inventing modern dental floss; in 1815, he advised his patients to use thin silk thread for cleaning between their teeth.

When did flossing become a daily habit?

Although dental floss was introduced over two centuries ago, it didn’t become a common daily habit until the later 20th century. Widespread public health campaigns, increased availability of improved floss products, and growing awareness of oral hygiene’s impact on overall health helped make regular flossing a part of daily routines for many people.

What was the first dental floss made of?

Early dental floss was commonly made from silk. By the late 1800s, silk dental floss was commercially available, and floss materials later evolved to include nylon and other synthetic fibers.

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