Saturday, April 13, 2024

History of Dental Floss

Levi Spear Parmly: (1790-1859) a dentist from New Orleans, is credited with inventing the first form of dental floss.

In 1819, he recommended running a waxen silk thread "through the interstices of the teeth, between their necks and the arches of the gum, to dislodge that irritating matter which no brush can remove and which is the real source of disease."

He considered this the most important part of oral care.


Floss was not commercially available until 1882, when the Codman and Shurtleft company started producing unwaxed silk floss.

In 1898, the Johnson & Johnson Corporation received the first patent for dental floss that was made from the same silk material used by doctors for silk\stitches.

in 1898 that was made from the same silk material used by doctors for silk stitches.

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.   —Source: Oral B

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Listed by Inventiongen.com —
“This invention represents a fraction of the countless contributions made by American inventors, showcasing the nation’s commitment to innovation and progress across diverse disciplines,”

America truly is exceptional, and we’ve only just begun. ///