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Clever Uses For Dental Floss: Beyond Teeth
I had forgotten that a woman I know used dental floss this past May to expertly cut a white sheet cake into 60 slices. Not that you'll be traveling with huge sheet cake, but it's good to know that if you were, and if you had dental floss, you'd have a way to wow the crowd.
Turns out, there are other wow uses for dental floss. I just read about a few of them in the discussion thread "Useful Travel Stuff" on Travelwriters.com. A guy named Kevin Kalley offered these tips, triggering off my sheet cake memory.
- sew with it
- use it as clothesline
- temporary lock on a suitcase (tie in a strong knot to keep the zipper closed)
- cut fruit, cheese and bread
- use to quiet a dripping faucet. (As he explains it, you tie one end around the faucet and the other end of the dental floss down the drain. The drips travel along the thread instead of making that obnoxious drip dropping sound. Neat, huh?)
Here are two links to Web sites that mention alternative uses for dental floss-- ThriftyFun.com and RDLiving
By the way, a friend of mine told me this joke that a dentist told him.
- Question: How many teeth do you need to floss?
- Answer: Only the ones you want to keep.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Alex Berger May 11th 2009 7:36PM
Fantastic tip, definitely adding it to my odd but useful tools - right there with superglue and ziploc bags as must haves for travel!
christine.gowen Sep 7th 2007 9:00PM
It's also great for beading projects with children. It stays stiff enough for them to get it through the beads, it's strong, it knots well, and it has an easy-to-use cutter.
berkcounty Sep 10th 2007 12:54AM
My mom always used it to cut polenta. I have been sewing up Thanksgiving and Christmas turkeys with it for years!!
Richard Sep 9th 2007 8:45PM
Good Paraglider pilots keep a roll of dental floss in their emergency bag just in case you have get caught in a tree of some other high place. Taking a fall after an emergency landing can be bone breaking or even fatal. Best thing to do is stay where you are and when help arrives, lower a string of dental floss to retrieve a rescue line, loop it over an over head branch (or rock or whatever) and let yourself down safely.
DJS Sep 10th 2007 12:52AM
So..waxed or unwaxed?
Gail Sep 10th 2007 12:51AM
we use it to hold the Christmas tree up invisible and strong
bellapuella91 Sep 10th 2007 12:50AM
haaaah thats funny djs!
TONY Sep 9th 2007 9:55PM
IT WAS ALSO USED AS A SAW IN THE 1970s FOR TWO INMATES THEY USED IT ON A SET OF STEEL BARS WITH DENTAL POWDER AND IT WORKS TO THIS DAY MOST JAILS BAN IT.
Pam Sep 9th 2007 9:58PM
In a childbirth preparation class, the nurse who was the instructor recommended that we keep dental floss in the car. If you happen to give birth in the car, floss works great for cutting the unbilical cord. Wrap it around the cord, and pull it tight until it cuts through. I took her advice, thankfully didn't have to use it.
Leah Sep 9th 2007 10:09PM
cake cutting with floss is really gret.. when you want to cut a 9X13 layer in half to make two layer ( or a two layer round cake into 4 thin layers).Just start the floss and pull through the layer and it will cut into two layers just about perfect..much easier than with a knife.. Frost
between the layers.sides and on top..you'll have a beautiful cake.
lita Sep 9th 2007 10:25PM
Use it to cut cheesecake. It does a most impressive job. (Don't bring it up through the cut; let go of one end and pull it through, and cut again and again....) Don't forget to compensate for the crust!
Peggy Sep 9th 2007 10:32PM
When making fresh cinnamon rolls, the rolled up dough can be cut into individual rolls by circling the dough log with floss, tying a half-knot, and then pulling the ends apart. It does not squash the dough like a knife does.
Barb Sep 9th 2007 10:31PM
Works great to sew buttons on that have a metal shank. The metal will not cut through the floss like it will with cotton thread.
robinrae Sep 9th 2007 10:38PM
I leared this trick with dental floss more than 32 years ago when I was just 10 years old. I lived down the road from an old farmer and his wife. I'd spend my spare time helping her in the kitchen baking. She taught me how to make home made cinnamon rolls and after the dough is rolled up into the log, slide a piece of dental floss under the middle of the log to be cut. Pick up each end cross the pieces and just pull. Slide the floss under the new half and continue cutting until you have perfect 1 inch slices. Usually 12 slices to make an even dozen. Let rise and bake. Let cool and frost. ANYONE can make these now! Better than any bakery anyday!
xololady Sep 10th 2007 12:48AM
I used floss once to sew my dog's ear back together after she got in a fight. It saved the flap until we could get to the vet on Monday morning. Why do animals always have emergencies on weekends?! Waxed, cinnamon. I used a sharp sewing needle.
robinrae Sep 10th 2007 12:48AM
Peggy, no slip knot is necessary. Just pick up each end and pull in the opposite direction cutting it. Works like a charm though doesn't it?
SIN Sep 9th 2007 10:58PM
i used for children to string candy necklaces. using pliers to break point off needle and dental floss single string to celebrate fall party theme- thankful for plenty- i used orange gummy slices colored marshmellows gummy bears.ETC.i suggested the children to TELL A STORY SUCH AS INDIANS DID IN THIER BEAD WORK
DON Sep 9th 2007 11:29PM
HAVEING BEEN A MEATCUTTER FOR A LOT OF YEARS, I WAS USED TO CUTS AND PAIN. ONE DAY WHILE CUTTING TILE, I CUT MY FINGER WITH THE TILE KNIFE. I HEATED A NEEDLE TO STERILIZE IT AND USED DENTAL FLOSS TO STICH THE CUT. I TOOK THE STICHES OUT AFTER 5 DAYS AND NEVER HAD A SCAR.
HOWIE Sep 9th 2007 11:34PM
HANGING CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS
marla Sep 10th 2007 11:04PM
Thanks for all the neat ideas!!! I am going to try them all!!