What it means
نخ دندان (nakh-e dandân) literally means tooth thread and is the standard Persian term for dental floss. Both components are pure Persian: نخ (nakh) means thread or string, and دندان (dandân) means tooth. The related verb phrase نخ دندان کشیدن (nakh-e dandân keshidan) means to floss your teeth. You will hear this phrase at the dentist and in everyday hygiene conversations. There is no widely used synonym.
How to use it
- روزی یه بار باید نخ دندان بکشی. (ruzi ye bâr bâyad nakh-e dandân bekeshi.) “You should floss once a day.”
- نخ دندان داری؟ (nakh-e dandân dâri?) “Do you have dental floss?”
- دکتر گفت بعد از هر وعده نخ دندان بکش. (doktor goft ba’d az har va’de nakh-e dandân bekesh.) “The doctor said floss after every meal.”
- نخ دندان از داروخونه میفروشن. (nakh-e dandân az dârukhunje miforushand.) “Dental floss is sold at the pharmacy.”
Cultural note
Flossing is gaining more attention in Iranian dental health campaigns, though surveys suggest it remains less consistently practiced than brushing. Iranian dentists increasingly recommend it as a complement to brushing, especially for preventing gum disease. The phrasing نخ دندان کشیدن, using the verb کشیدن (to pull), vividly reflects the sliding motion of floss between teeth.