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New York inmates sue over dental floss

Stock photo image of dental floss

Prison officials say dental floss is banned because it can be used as a weapon

Eleven inmates in a suburban New York jail have sued their prison for $500m (ÂĢ300m) and access to dental floss, saying they are losing their teeth.

 

In a civil rights lawsuit filed on 10 September, the inmates say they are suffering cavities and pain because they are unable to floss.

 

Deputy Correction Commissioner Justin Pruyne defended the ban, saying the floss

can potentially be used a weapon.

 

Santiago Gomez, the lead plaintiff, says other jails permit flossing.

 

The inmates at the Westchester county jail in Valhalla say without floss they develop cavities and bleeding gums, despite brushing their teeth three times a day. They also say they need constant dental work for temporary fillings because they are denied crowns and root canals.


Mr Pruyne said staff were exploring if there were products "which would be appropriate in a custodial situation... maybe some sort of floss that breaks easily" but that "staff and inmate safety come first".

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Originally Posted by Garage Joe:

I use those brushy tooth pick things too.

However I don't know a song about them.


I used to make them...or package them,it all involved a sort of spiral metal plate that you just tossed them on and it vibrated so they wemt round the spiral thing...well

 

 

 

it wasn't half bad when you had to lean over the vibrating machine to clear the blockages, omg, the parts that that machine had slyly rubbing against it is no mans ...........................delete, delete, delete...

SR

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