Floss is for Tossers!

"Most flosses are made from nylon or polyester which can take up to 80 years to decompose in landfill. Cotton and silk flosses are a common replacement, but they are often fragile and break easily."

Image by Pixabay

Did you know it can take up to 80 years for dental floss to breakdown in the landfill?

According to the American Dental Association "4 out of 10 Americans floss at least once a day." While this might sounds like a small number, consider that in 2014 the United State's population was estimated at just above 300 million people. That means about 120 million people (40%) floss every single day.

Imagine how the earth could ever keep up with the 120 million strands of floss added to landfill each day. That's 43.8 billion strands of floss a year!

How can I help without compromising my hygiene?

Chances are that if you skip flossing, your mouth isn't missing much. That's right, according to the New York Times recents studies have contradicted everything your dentist has told you about flossing. 

There are several options out there for the environmentally conscious consumer. However, it's important to be cautious and not purchase the first product that labels itself "green" or "eco-friendly" as these words aren't regulated and can be used try and manipulate consumers. 

I keep Stim-U-Dent in my cabinet because its

• made from biodegradable softwood
• clinically proven to prevent and reduce gingivitis
• accepted by the ADA
• found in most drug stores (Walgreens, Rite Aid)

Environmental Impact

Stim-U-Dent is an alternative to floss. Most flosses are made from nylon or polyester which can take up to 80 years to decompose in landfill. Cotton and silk flosses are a common replacement, but they are often fragile and break easily.  Silk floss is also non-vegan as the process of harvesting it involves suffocating the silkworms. 

Because Stim-U-Dent is made from basswood it can be thrown into your compost pile after you're done with it.  If you're like most students, you probably don't have your own compost pile. Consider depositing your compost in your University's bins.

Or rest assured, that if these do end up in landfill, they won't be sticking around for the next 80 years. 

Affordability

This is is a relatively inexpensive product. It can be found on Amazon for 12 packs of 25 dental sticks for $7.51. That comes out to 300 dental sticks at about $.025 per use. 

Compare this to Oral-B's value pack which comes with 2 containers of 40 meters of floss. This calculates out to about 175 strands (assuming each strand is 18 inches) at about $.032 per use. 

This is the cheapest biodegradable product I've been able to find on the market. In some cases, its been the cheapest, flat out. 

Accessibility 

This product is easily available in drug stores such as: Walgreens and Rite Aid

Clinical Studies

Several studies have been conducted to test the effectiveness of Stim-U-Dent. These studies have found that Stim-U-Dent is more effective than dental floss and mouthwash at preventing and reducing gingivitis and bloody gums. 

Case Study 1
Case Study 2
Case Study 3