As many of you are likely aware, we are all moving and breathing in one big bowl of plastic soup. An increasing amount of research is pointing to the dangers of our bodies being burdened by the plastics, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that surround us. These materials are commonly called forever chemicals because they do not break down in the environment. From cookware, food packaging, water bottles and dental floss, it is hard to escape these products unless exercising a strong conscious effort to minimize exposure. It is impossible to get away from plastics completely but for those of you on a mission to reduce your toxic burden, I would like to share about a new product I have found and started using daily. This newsletter is not intended to sound alarmist, just trying to bring awareness!
I have to admit that I was a bit startled to learn that the most popular and easiest to use dental floss is made with forever chemicals. Prior to taking this deep dive into health, it never occurred to me to consider the composition of what we are placing into our gums. Now that I am here, I want to provide you with options that are natural and can help improve your dental health.
Let’s take a brief look at the history of humans recognizing the need to clean between their teeth and the materials they utilized. Before the era of industrialization, horse hair and twigs were the original forms of interdental cleaning. In the 1800s dentists started using a thin silk thread that was sometimes coated in wax to clean between teeth. Johnson and Johnson patented a silk dental floss in 1898 using the same material doctors use for closing wounds. It wasn’t until around 1940 when the cost of silk was increasing during WWII that nylon floss entered the dental marketplace. This was likely a welcome change from the shredding nature of early filaments.
It is estimated that only about 12% of American floss daily. Most of us in the dental field struggle to get patients to brush their teeth for a full two minutes, let alone floss effectively. Compounding this challenge are news articles like this one from the NYT. The news headline suggested that readers should not feel guilty about not flossing because research demonstrated that the habit had little to no benefit. This gave much desired ammunition to those who refuse the practice. Basically the science did not find a significant reduction in plaque after one and three months of daily flossing. I believe there are two simple reasons for this outcome: patients don’t know how to floss properly AND we are using products that lack effectiveness.
To mitigate the first hurdle, we as a profession need to do a better job of educating our patients during their appointments. I think often we make the flawed assumption that patients know how to floss. Personal note: I am the daughter of a dentist and it was not until I got to dental school that I learned the proper technique. My father probably figured his hygienists reviewed this with me and vice versa. If no one has ever taken the time to have you hold a mirror and watch the effective way to floss, please ask the next time you have your teeth cleaned. Here is a quick video for those of you eager to learn!
Overcoming the second challenge is going to take a shift away from the plastic based flosses we’ve been using for the past 80 years and returning to the natural fibers of our predecessors. No, not horse hair! I have often compared flossing with smooth Teflon flosses like trying to dust your home using tissue paper. Sure, you can move the dust particles around but you’re still left with a dusty home. Using a floss with natural texture like silk can help you to not only move but also remove the plaque leading to a more effective experience.
My new favorite floss is from Better Biom and is a 100% silk based product. The features that I love include:
- It is packaged in a glass refillable vial that cuts down on environmental waste.
- It is an expanding floss which means it more effectively cleans the wider spaces where food gets caught.
- It is infused with Nigella Sativa which has anti-inflammatory benefits for improved gingival health.
- Eucalyptus is used for its antimicrobial properties and clean taste.
- It is never tested on animals and is biodegradable
For patients that express interest in this product line, we will have it available for use and for sale at your next hygiene visit. There is a small learning curve with natural fiber flosses but the results are worth the time invested to learn.
I want to close by thanking you for the opportunity to provide your dental care. We look forward to seeing you at your next office visit. We also are overwhelmed with gratitude for the outpouring of love and support for our neighbors of Western North Carolina. We sent 6 truck loads full of supplies!! We are no longer collecting as most sites have discontinued receiving physical donations.
Most Sincerely,
Jessica
