Abstract
This report provides information on the marketing status of dental floss in three types of business categories within a business area and a residential area. The targeted business and residential areas were chosen from Nagoya. A section measuring approximately 4km^2 was chosen from each area. Business categories were classified into three groups: pharmacy, supermarket and convenience store. The percentages of pharmacies and supermarkets distributing dental floss were higher than that of convenience stores in the residential area, and the percentage of pharmacies was higher than those of supermarkets and convenience stores in the business area. Convenience stores distributing dental floss generally sold only one type of floss, while pharmacies had more than seven different types. Dental floss without floss aid was sold in less than 5% of convenience stores, and in more than 60 percent of pharmacies. In general, dentists and dental hygienists should recommend that their patient shop at pharmacies when they purchase dental floss without floss aid. Patients can go to either a supermarket or a pharmacy for dental floss with floss aid in residential areas. However, it is inappropriate to recommend that patients shop at a convenience store when they purchase dental floss without floss aid in business areas.
