Flushing dental floss down the toilet? Stop!

Dental floss may be an unexpected reason your toilet or pipes always seems to be clogged. Yes, you’re reading it correctly! While floss seems small and harmless, many plumbers can share stories about dealing with “dental floss monsters.”

Some people claim it’s easier to flush down their used floss rather than throwing it in the trash can (next to the toilet), but here are some reasons why you should NEVER flush dental floss ever again.

Clogged Pipes
Floss is made of Teflon or nylon, which is not biodegradable, meaning it cannot be broken down. Because there is no way to break down floss, it can cause obstruction. According to many plumbing companies, when flushed, floss can coil around hair, wipes, toilet paper and other matter in your pipes, leading to a pileup and blockages.

Environmental Impact
Floss can consolidate with other objects and form balls that can continue to grow as more material is added. Sometimes these materials will mesh with other elements in the sewer system such as grease or tree debris, causing a severe and massive issue for the city sewer system.

Fun Floss Facts
Now that you’ve got the scoop on flushing floss, here are some other fun floss facts.

• Floss removes debris that gets stuck on your gums and teeth as well as thick plaque, while it also polishes your tooths surface.
• There are many different types of floss you can choose from waxed or unwaxed, flavored or unflavored, regular or wide size. There are also two types of floss; monofilament and multifilament.
• Monofilament floss is made of rubber or plastic, while multifilament is primarily made of silk and nylon.
• Waxed floss is generally easier to slide between tighter spaced teeth.
• Does your floss usually fray? Try unwaxed floss!
• To make flossing most impactful, you typically need 18 to 20 inches of floss!
• Brushing those pearly whites will only clean around 70 percent of your teeth’s surface, which is why we use floss.

Question about your flossing style? Ask your Dental Care Center dentist on your next visit. Make your appointment at one of our five locations.