Dental floss: another non-green household staple

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Dental floss: another non-green household staple

by Cat Lincoln (Subscribe to Cat Lincoln's posts)
Jun 23rd 2008 @ 1:11PM

Filed under: Health

There are so many stealth non-green consumable substances in your home.Take for example, dental floss. Most brands are completely non-biodegradable. Completely unrecyclable containers. And did you realize Glide is coated with teflon?

Chemicals, landfill fodder, and let's not even talk about the big, bad companies that produce most floss. I was ready to skip flossing entirely and face the wrath of my dentist yet again. But with a little research I came up with some greener alternatives for flossing, which are shared in the gallery.

I have to say, the Bryton Pick completely freaked me out, but not as much as the idea of rinsing used floss, hanging it to dry and reusing it. You can have my green credentials back before I cross that "reuse" line. I do like the idea of silk floss, which is neat for many reasons, including the fact that it was the material originally proposed for floss.

Gallery: Eco-friendly flossing options

Got a suggestion for eco-friendly floss? Please, share it in the comments!

Comments [3]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

7-29-2008 @ 9:11AM

Emily said...

A company called DenTek is about to release a biodegradable/recyclable floss pick. the handle's made of a bioresin that decomposes in commercial compost and the actual floss is recyclable. Even the packaging is recyclable. I'd rather do that than use an irrigator, but to each their own.

Isn't silk kind of unethical? I mean, some of the facilities that produce it overseas use child labor and stuff. Plus, you have to have it imported, and shipping is a bit polluter, too. Anyway, check out the floss pick. It sounds pretty solid to me.

8-11-2008 @ 1:42PM

Dawn said...

Regarding the Brytonpick, I’m a dental hygienist, and I have to say that based on the video demo, the brytonpick isn’t going below the gumline (there are two areas between each tooth). Flossing below the gumline is just as important, if not more important, than flossing between the teeth. I’ve had patients who claim they floss daily, yet wonder why they have gum disease. It’s because you have to get the plaque under the gums. If you floss your gums, your teeth will get clean. So proper flossing is more important than most realize- more people lose their teeth to gum disease than to decay. I admit I haven’t tried it, but the brytonpick looks like it could easily lacerate the gums if you try to go below the gumline. Ouch.

8-20-2008 @ 12:23PM

Michael said...

I am also an oral care professional; I have tried this product, as with our whole office, we like it and recommend it to patients, so maybe I don’t understand Dawn's point of view. I have had this debate with my colleagues, we all know only about 15% of Americans floss regularly. I know that some patients that say they floss, but they really don’t either because they don’t learn how, or its uncomfortable or have no time…so come on lets be real, this product can help the majority that don’t floss! I haven’t seen anyone lacerate a gum with it! How about when you force floss between teeth that can hurt to! Brytonpick is to clean between teeth, like a floss but also it is the only ‘pick’ I have found to go fully between teeth…So for someone who never tried the product I don’t think her opinion count. Lets face it hygienist, no matter how much we force floss on people, still only 15% do it regular…maybe how we are the problem?!
WHILE, yes Dawn it is important to clean under the gum line, perhaps you are overlooking the basic science of oral hygiene and plaque formation.
PLAQUE DOES NOT ORIGINATE BELOW THE GUM LINE! Rather it forms on or between dental surfaces and migrates below the gums into periodontal spaces/pockets, and that is where the real problems begin. Plaque forms from food residue and bacteria in the mouth…So think about this; if a product can remove food debris from between teeth then it can slow plaque formation. So people can have extra care when they cant floss(that’s when I use it and recommend to use it) And for those who are not flossers, its fun for them to pick after meals….hey its better that not flossing at all!! I love this product, it’s a great idea! Thanks!
Michael

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