The Unexpected Origins of Dental Floss: A Story of Innovation and Oral Health

Dental floss is such a common part of oral hygiene today that it’s easy to assume it’s always been around. But like many everyday items, floss has an interesting history—one that dates back centuries and involves unexpected inventors, evolving materials, and a growing understanding of oral health.

Early Forms of Floss: A Primitive Beginning

The idea of cleaning between teeth isn’t new. Archaeological evidence suggests that even prehistoric humans used tools like horsehair, twigs, or sharpened sticks to remove food particles. Ancient societies, including the Egyptians and Babylonians, also experimented with primitive floss-like materials made from plant fibers and thin strips of linen.

The Birth of Modern Floss (1815)

The first recorded mention of dental floss as we know it comes from an unlikely source—a New Orleans dentist named Levi Spear Parmly. In 1815, Parmly, a firm believer in preventive oral care, began advising his patients to use silk thread to clean between their teeth. He later expanded on this idea in his book A Practical Guide to the Management of Teeth, where he emphasized flossing as an essential part of oral hygiene.

From Silk to Mass Production (Late 19th Century)

For much of the 19th century, floss remained a recommendation but was not widely accessible. It wasn’t until 1882 that the Codman and Shurtleff Company (later acquired by Johnson & Johnson) started producing unscented silk dental floss for commercial sale. Around the same time, Johnson & Johnson patented the first dental floss product, made from the same silk used in surgical sutures.

The Rise of Nylon Floss (1940s)

While silk floss was effective, it had drawbacks—it was expensive, frayed easily, and wasn’t widely available. This changed in the 1940s when Dr. Charles C. Bass, a physician and researcher, introduced nylon floss. Nylon was more durable, resistant to fraying, and easier to produce. This innovation made floss more affordable and practical for everyday use, helping to popularize flossing worldwide.

Floss Today: Expanding Options

Since the introduction of nylon, floss has continued to evolve. Today, floss comes in many forms, including:

Waxed and unwaxed floss

Dental tape (broader, ribbon-like floss for wider gaps)

Flavored floss (mint, cinnamon, etc.)

Floss picks and water flossers


Flossing has become a global habit, endorsed by dentists and oral health professionals as an essential part of daily hygiene. Studies have linked flossing to benefits beyond just cleaner teeth—reducing gum disease and even lowering the risk of systemic conditions like heart disease.

A Simple Yet Revolutionary Invention

What started as a simple silk thread in 1815 has transformed into a multimillion-dollar industry and a cornerstone of oral care. The evolution of dental floss is a testament to human ingenuity and the ever-growing pursuit of better health. So next time you reach for that strand of floss, remember—you’re participating in a practice that has been improving smiles for centuries!