How do they make dental floss?

Answer 1

http://www.madehow.com/Volume-2/Dental-Floss.html

Dental floss is commonly made out of one of two polymers (synthetic compounds), either nylon or Teflon. Nylon is defined as a fiber-forming substance of a long-chain synthetic polyamide. A polyamide is a compound characterized by more than one amide group; an amide is a chemical related to ammonia. Teflon is the trade name of the polymer polytetrafluoroethylene, or PTFE. Other raw materials are the coatings, which may be wax, flavors, and various proprietary ingredients which vary with the manufacturer.

To make floss from nylon, nylon salt is polymerized and the resulting polymer is poured out as a ribbon. Next, it is cut into small chips, flakes, or pellets. These are blended, remelted, and pumped through spinnerets to form filaments. When the nylon cools, the filaments solidify and regather to form a yarn. The ends of the filaments are combined to create one strand of floss. Correctly twisting the nylon is a vital part of this process; the turns average between 2.5 and 3.5 per inch. Twisting adds strength to the floss as well as greatly reducing fraying or breaking.
Since floss consists of many filaments, it can be produced in different "decitexes."

Decitex is defined as the weight of 10,000 meters of unwaxed nylon in grams. Floss is also measured by "Denier." Denier is defined as the weight of 9,000 meters of uncoated floss in grams. There is a direct correlation between the numerical value of the decitex or denier and the thickness of the strand of floss: if this value increases, the thickness of the strand also increases.

Making floss with Teflon
2 To produce a Teflon dental floss, a polymer of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is formulated. Next, the polymer is melted into a paste and stretched into a long, thin strand. The polymer is then expanded into one or more directions. The PTFE is cut, forming different deniers. After the PTFE is processed, its tensile strength is substantial. Unlike multi-filament nylon flosses, PTFE is a monofilament, which does not shred or break easily. Therefore, twisting is not required for this process. The rates of stretching during the manufacturing process give this floss its added strength.
Filament coating
3 This process allows manufacturers to differentiate their products by permeating the floss with distinctive and proprietary coatings. The coating takes place in emulsion baths, where the floss is pulled through waxes, flavors, and other desired coatings at a consistent velocity.
Bobbin winding
4 Floss bobbins are next wound in one of two shapes: cylindrical or roll type. Winding the floss bobbins requires the use of equipment that transfers the yarn from one type of spool to another type. A cylindrical bobbin is dispensed through a tube or rectangular-shaped package. It can be wound where the floss is pulled through the center or pulled from the outer layer first. The advantage to this type of bobbin is that it can accommodate more yardage. The roll bobbin is the more conventional type of floss bobbin. It is dispensed through flat containers by pulling from the outer layer only.

Answer 2

Wow, good question. Probably similar to the way they make string and then they just put a coating on top.

Answer 3

The push toothpaste through a really small hole, the friction dries it and it goes hard :-p

Answer 4

fishing line,.remember,.?