Dental floss

Dental floss is used to clean the spaces between the teeth of dental plaque (plaque, bacteria) and food scraps. Dentists recommend to use it every day as a complementary tool for cleaning teeth. The application prevents especially before dental caries, but also of periodontitis. Another tool for space maintenance are interdental brushes.

Floss can of plastics ( nylon, polyethylene ) or silk made ​​and is available in unwaxed and waxed design and with PTFE coating (Teflon, Gore- Tex). Furthermore, there is dental floss impregnated with fluorides or peppermint flavor. Although coated and waxed dental floss slides easily over the tooth surfaces, sliding in practice, however, more easily through the finger. However, the cleaning effect between waxed and unwaxed dental floss is no different.

Thread floss is a supplement for the removal of dental plaque with a toothbrush, since these only 70 % of the tooth surface can be cleaned.

The use of dental floss is relatively uncommon in Germany. According to rough estimates, 20 % of the German population floss in the household, but it is used regularly only by about 5%. In the United States, the use of dental floss is considerably more common. With responsible for this is the widespread use of dental hygienists ( dental prophylaxis helpers ) in the USA.

History

Similar materials such as dental floss or toothpicks have been used by prehistoric man, what grooves indicate to the teeth found.

Levi Spear Parmly the dentist (1790-1859, New Orleans, USA), the invention of modern dental floss is attributed. He recommended 1815 cleaning teeth with silk threads ( untwisted silk ). The company and Codman Shurtleft began in 1882 with the production of unwaxed dental floss. The company Johnson and Johnson (now also in Germany on the market ) had in 1898 patented the dental floss.

Before the Second World War floss was spread only slightly in the United States. Then Charles C. Bass developed still in use today floss nylon threads. This was elastic, scrubbed by not so fast and did not break so quickly.

After the Second World War, the use of dental floss in the U.S. has been highly touted, which is also the main task of the National Flossing Council was founded in 1996. He gives, among other things " Floscar " ( Oscar Floss, floss Oscar ), an online journal publishes and performs dental floss awareness campaigns.

Motivation for daily use

Bacterial plaque ( biofilm, formerly plaque) perform on the one hand on the formation of acids for the development of caries, on the other hand, via the formation of certain toxins to inflammation of the gums ( gingivitis), the precursor of periodontitis. The spaces between the teeth are so-called predilection sites for the development of both diseases, as they are often neglected in the daily oral hygiene.

The aim is to remove the plaque between the teeth ( interdental Latin ). There, the cleaning with the toothbrush is limited. While they very effectively cleans the outside, inside and chewing surfaces of your teeth - the bristles meet perpendicular to the tooth surface (some brushing techniques 45 degrees) - reach the bristles between the teeth only partially or strip only parallel to the surface on the tooth ( tangential). This mechanical force is not sufficient to remove the plaque.

In the spaces between the teeth, the adjacent teeth touch at the contact points. Directly below these points of contact are the places often where caries occurs ( proximal caries ).

Use

• The dental floss is wound around the C-shaped tooth. The tooth is carefully cleaned briefly with some up-and -down movements up under the gumline.
• The application of dental floss can be effectively exercised only from the age of 10. In children, the use of dental floss between the fourth and fifth deciduous tooth by the parents is very useful, because sometimes of caries between the teeth. The use of dental floss is recommended to old age, the loss of the last tooth space.
• Also crowned teeth should be cleaned with dental floss. However, the focus is then on the crown margins, which are particularly susceptible to the formation of dental plaque often.
• Often occurs when flossing bleeding gums. A common reason is an inflammation of the gums ( gingivitis). This inflammation goes with regular use of dental floss back quickly.

Flossetten

There are small brackets for clamping dental floss, called Flossetten to facilitate the application. They are usually offered as a ready strung disposable product under the name floss stick or tooth violin. The cleaning effect without holder is in experienced people but much better.

Tartar and dental floss

With dental floss can be removed only soft plaque (plaque ). Tartar is too hard for it and must be removed by a dentist or dental personnel. Through regular use of dental floss plaque is already eliminated in the approach so that may arise as a result no more tartar.

In the animal kingdom

In March 2009 it was announced that scientists had observed 50 macaques of a colony in Lopburi near the Thai capital Bangkok, the clean with the help of human hair as dental floss their teeth interstices. This ritual is also passed on to the pups by mothers cleaning teeth then very thoroughly and clearly perform when they watch the pups here.