Reach - The Original

REACH® dental floss: the original symbol for quality and pioneering product design

To this day, REACH® dental floss is considered the reference in flossing by dentists. The REACH® brand was developed by DuPont in 1976 before being acquired a year later by Johnson & Johnson, the first company to mass-produce dental floss back in 1898. Originally, Johnson & Johnson used the surplus material from silk sutures to make their dental floss, which made it affordable for the ordinary consumer. In 1976, the company patented the modern threading floss packaging, which revolutionised the way floss is dispensed and used.

Following the nationwide launch of REACH® by Johnson & Johnson in 1978, the brand’s professional dental floss quickly became a favourite of American dentists and dental hygienists. At that time, the profession of dental hygienist was still largely unknown outside America. Switzerland was one of the first European countries to decide to introduce this field. With American dental hygienists came American dental floss, and even today dentists complete their training with REACH® dental floss.

Why do dentists love REACH®?

We spoke to a number of Swiss dentists about REACH® dental floss. They explained to us how they were trained with this brand and that this is the only floss they use on their patients. There are several reasons for this:

It is packaged inexpensively and can therefore be used for a particularly long time. This is particularly advantageous for dentists who treat several patients a day. It has the perfect width and thickness, which is particularly advantageous for narrow interdental spaces. The high-quality wax coating ensures that the floss glides effortlessly between the teeth. It is resistant to fraying so that the fibres do not get caught or stuck.

It is very user-friendly and also forgives mistakes sometimes. This is particularly beneficial for people with uneven surfaces, e.g. protruding fillings, as it simply glides over them without hindering the user.

We also asked these Swiss dentists to rate REACH® based on certain factors (see Fig. 1). From this we can conclude that REACH® dental floss is a pioneering, contemporary product that is innovative, trustworthy and of high quality. Due to its medical-grade materials and impeccable price/performance ratio, REACH® dental floss is the perfect partner for dentists.

Common mistakes when using dental floss

Dental floss? Why is that?

When you brush your teeth, you remove plaque from 60% of the total tooth surface. This shows that while brushing is important, it is not the only way to remove plaque. This is precisely why the Swiss Dental Association SSO recommends brushing between the teeth once a day.

When you floss your teeth, you also remove plaque from the other 40% of the tooth surfaces. This ensures that the entire oral cavity is cleaned, especially the hard-to-reach areas such as the interdental spaces and the gumline. However, when flossing, it is important that you avoid these common flossing mistakes. Here are the most important.

Do not use dental floss at all

The most common flossing mistake is simply not flossing enough.

Although the Swiss Dental Association SSO recommends cleaning between the teeth once a day, research shows that less than 20% of Swiss people actually floss daily. This means that the rest floss less than once a day. For some this means flossing occasionally, for others it means not flossing at all.

Unfortunately, not flossing causes plaque to accumulate in hard-to-reach areas of the mouth and increases the risk of tooth decay and gum disease in these areas.

Do not clean everywhere

Even if you are one of the few people who floss daily, you may make the mistake of leaving out certain areas. In fact, many dentists find that patients often forget some important parts. The first area is the back of the last molars. Two other areas that are often overlooked are the sides of the teeth and the area just below the gum line.

Irritation of the gums

Proper flossing should not cause irritation to the gums. However, many people avoid flossing because they say it irritates their gums. This can happen if the floss is rubbed forcibly or accidentally bent against the gums.

When flossing, gently run the floss around each tooth and do not touch the gums. Flossing in the opposite direction of the gum line reduces the risk of touching the gums with the floss.

Finally, do not floss more than once a day, as over-flossing can also lead to gum irritation.

Not flossing at the right time

Did you know that there is an ideal time to floss? To get the most out of your daily flossing routine, the best time to floss is in the evening just before bed.

It is also recommended to floss before brushing, as removing plaque from between the teeth allows the fluoride in toothpaste to spread better on the teeth.

Brushing and flossing before bed is important to prevent your teeth from being damaged by bacteria overnight. The reason for this is that saliva production decreases during sleep, which means that your teeth are not sufficiently protected.

Not using the right kind of floss

Another mistake many people make when flossing is not using the right floss. Many people do not know that there are different types of floss suitable for different smiles.

If you use the wrong floss for your teeth, it can make the job excessively difficult and less effective. Therefore, it is important that you spend some time finding out which type of floss is suitable for your smile. A floss that doesn’t tear, doesn’t cut your fingers, doesn’t fray and leaves fibre or wax residue between your teeth. In short: a dental floss you can trust.