Thin string or tape used to clean between your teeth, or soft fluffy material used in crafts or decoration.
From French 'floche' meaning 'tuft of wool,' derived from Latin 'floccus.' The dental use emerged in the early 1800s when silk thread was recommended for cleaning teeth.
Dental floss was originally made from silk, and dentists had to convince people to use it—now we know it prevents tooth decay better than brushing alone, but it took decades for people to believe it!
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