Dental flossing is a widely recommended practice in modern oral hygiene, serving as a simple yet effective method for removing food debris and plaque from the tight spaces between teeth. While using a thin filament may seem like a recent invention, the need for interdental cleaning has been recognized for millennia. The history of this practice spans from crude natural tools used by early humans to the specialized products available today.
Ancient Precursors to Flossing
Long before the invention of modern thread, people used various objects to clean between their teeth and along the gum line. Archaeological evidence suggests that prehistoric humans, including Neanderthals, used small, pointed tools to dislodge particles from their teeth. Grooves found on ancient human teeth indicate the use of splinters or similar implements for interdental cleaning, dating back over 60,000 years.
The use of natural fibers and wood was common in many ancient civilizations, representing the earliest forms of floss. Horsehair or thin strips of wood were employed to scrape away material from between teeth. In ancient Egypt around 3500 BC, people fashioned rough toothbrushes from frayed twigs, which served a dual purpose for both brushing and a rudimentary form of flossing.
The 19th-Century Innovation
The specific invention of dental floss, as a dedicated thread recommended for daily use, is credited to an American dentist in the 19th century. Dr. Levi Spear Parmly, a practitioner in New Orleans, is widely recognized for this contribution. In 1815, Dr. Parmly began advising his patients to use a thin strand of silk thread to clean the areas a toothbrush could not reach.
He detailed this method in his 1819 book, A Practical Guide to the Management of Teeth, emphasizing that running a waxed silk thread through the spaces was necessary to dislodge irritating matter. Dr. Parmly’s recommendation was based on the understanding that tooth decay was caused by foreign material left on the tooth surface, making interdental cleaning a preventative measure. This focus on the regular use of silk thread marks the beginning of flossing as a dental practice.
The Path to Commercialization
Despite Dr. Parmly’s early recommendation, dental floss did not become commercially available until 1882. The first company to mass-produce it was Codman and Shurtleft, which began marketing unwaxed silk floss to the public. This product introduced the concept of a thread specifically packaged and sold for dental care, moving it beyond a doctor’s suggestion.
A significant step toward making floss a household item occurred in 1898 when Johnson & Johnson received the first patent for dental floss. Their product utilized the same silk material that surgeons commonly used for sutures.
The material saw a change in the 1940s, primarily due to the high cost and scarcity of silk during World War II. Dr. Charles C. Bass is credited with developing a replacement material: nylon, which was more durable, elastic, and affordable, leading to the modern version of floss. Nylon’s introduction, along with the subsequent development of waxed coatings and dental tape, made the product more comfortable and widely adopted.