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Dental floss

Dental floss is a well known tool for cleaning between teeth, and its use is almost universally recommended by dental care professionals. Some of the benefits that accrue from flossing are healthy teeth and gums, and prevention of tooth decay. Research now indicates that persons who floss may actually live longer and prevent some types of heart and arterial damage. Tooth decay and dental disease can be caused by bacterial action resulting from the formation of plaque about the teeth and/or the entrapment of food particles between the teeth and interstices therebetween. The removal of plaque and entrapped food particles reduces the incidence of caries, gingivitis, and mouth odors as well as generally improving oral hygiene. A dental floss typically consists of a series of synthetic filaments, mutually coupled to form a single thread, which is then possibly imbibed with flavours and other medical substances and possibly coated with protective and binding wax. Several types of floss are currently known and used. These flosses are made of materials such as nylon, polyethylene, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and expanded PTFE (ePTFE). Dental floss devices generally include a handle with a head portion designed to receive and hold a dental floss holder. In use, the dental floss holder is attached to the head portion and the floss is inserted between teeth. After a number of teeth have been cleaned with the floss, the dental floss holder is removed and replaced with a new dental floss holder. Dental floss is typically distributed in a compact dispenser from which a user may conveniently extract desired lengths of floss for dental cleansing purposes. The dispenser normally includes a dispenser case having a releasable lid. Typically enclosed within the dispenser case are an insert, a spool of dental floss rotatably supported by the insert, and a cutter bar carried by the insert.

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