Five Things You Didn’t Know About Floss
Floss might seem like the most ordinary thing in your bathroom cabinet, a humble string with a single job. But look a little closer, and it turns out this everyday essential has a surprisingly interesting backstory.
From its space-age materials to bizarre world records, here are five floss facts you probably didn’t know (but won’t forget in a hurry).
1. Floss has been used to escape prison
Yes - really.
Inmates at a West Virginia prison reportedly braided dental floss into a rope strong enough to climb down a 19-foot wall. According to reports, they used it over time to cut through steel and create a makeshift escape tool.
📰 LA Times
Traditional dental floss is made from tough synthetic fibres like nylon or Teflon (PTFE), so when braided and reinforced, it’s surprisingly durable. Not quite what your dentist had in mind - but undeniably impressive.
2. Most floss is made from the same material as non-stick pans
Many major brands of floss use polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) - which is similar to Teflon - the same chemical used in non-stick cookware.
PTFE is slick and resistant to friction, which makes it glide between teeth. But its use in floss is controversial. PTFE is part of a family of ‘forever chemicals’ called PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which don’t break down in the environment and may accumulate in the body.
A 2019 study even found a correlation between the use of PTFE-coated floss and higher PFAS levels in users’ blood.
3. Floss was first made from silk and invented in 1815
The idea of flossing is nothing new. In 1815, a New Orleans dentist named Dr. Levi Spear Parmly suggested using a thin silk thread to clean between teeth. His idea was simple: remove the gunk your toothbrush can’t reach.
By the late 1800s, silk floss was commercially available in the US, but it wasn’t until nylon replaced silk during WWII (due to shortages) that floss became mass-market and mainstream.
4. The average person uses around 122 yards of floss per year… but should be using more
Most floss containers hold about 40 to 50 yards of floss. That’s enough for roughly two months of daily flossing. But surveys consistently show most people don’t floss daily and many use far less than recommended.
According to the Academy of General Dentistry, the ideal use is about 18 inches of floss per day. That adds up to over 45 metres or around 122 yards — a year.
But studies suggest most people don’t even come close.
📚NHS
5. Flossing may lower your risk of heart disease
Flossing doesn’t just benefit your teeth it could help your heart too.
Several studies have suggested a link between gum disease and cardiovascular problems, including increased risk of stroke and heart attacks. The theory is that oral bacteria can enter the bloodstream through inflamed gums and contribute to systemic inflammation.
While more research is ongoing, experts agree that flossing helps reduce gum inflammation and improves overall oral hygiene which may, in turn, support broader health.
📚 Source: Mayo Clinic - Oral health and heart health
Final Thought
Floss is more than just a string in a plastic box. It’s an unsung hero of oral health with a surprisingly long history, a few strange tales, and growing questions about how it’s made and used.
At NUEOS, we believe floss should do more than work. It should feel good to use, be better for the planet, and fit seamlessly into your everyday life. We’re working on a better, smarter, next-generation floss - because a great routine starts with the right tools.
