Your dentist always recommends that you floss daily, but do you? Only 12 percent of Americans floss daily, according to the American Dental Association. It’s vital to floss to protect your dental health, and even your overall health. Here are four fun facts on flossing to get you excited about it:
- Dental floss was invented in 1815: During prehistoric times, there is evidence of people using horse hair and sticks to clean between their teeth, but the first dental floss was invented in 1815 by a New Orleans dentist, Dr. Levi Spear Parmly. He was the first dentist to advocate using waxed silken thread to remove debris stuck between teeth.
- Flossing can prevent heart disease: Many studies show that gum disease is related to serious health issues like heart disease. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, people with gum disease are almost twice as likely to have heart disease. Flossing helps prevent gum disease by removing built-up plaque near your gum line. If you want to live a longer and better life, just start flossing!
- Dental floss has been used to break out of prison: Dental floss has been used by prisoners to escape prison by sawing away fence posts or prison bars. One prisoner even made an 18-foot rope out of dental floss and escaped over the prison walls. Now some states don’t even allow certain kinds of dental floss to be used at prisons.
- Floss can be used as a kitchen tool: If you have trouble getting cookies off baking pans without breaking them, just slide some floss under them to loosen them up. You can also use floss to cut certain food like cheese and cakes.
Don’t forget to floss daily, brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day, and visit your dentist for a bi-annual check-up. If you are in need of a dental check-up, contact the friendly, experienced dental staff at the Lakeway Center for Cosmetic and Family Dentistry today and set-up your appointment.