The Lowdown on Plaque and Tooth Decay
Plaque is a clear, sticky film formed by bacteria in your mouth. If it is not cleaned away, it can irritate your gums, leading to gingivitis, gum disease and eventually tooth decay. Brushing helps remove plaque from the outer surfaces of teeth, but using floss is critical to remove plaque from between your teeth where toothbrushes can't reach.
Fun Floss Facts
- Modern dental floss was invented in the early 1800s by Levi Parmly, a New Orleans dentist.
- Brushing your teeth without flossing is like washing only 70% of your body.
- In 2000, kids at a camp in Wisconsin set a world record for the most people to floss their teeth at the same time.
- Three hundred people used one piece of Glide® Floss that was 1,500 feet long.
- Enough floss is sold in the U.S. each year to stretch from the Earth to the moon and back... 4 times!
People have reported many alternative uses for dental floss, including stringing beads, cutting cheesecake, tying a stuffed turkey before cooking, and as an indispensable part of a camping emergency kit.
Many dentists say you don't have to floss all your teeth, just the ones you want to keep! Remember, it just takes a few minutes to floss and help fight plaque and gum disease.