▁where ▁the ▁' Y ' ▁begins ▁to ▁branch ▁there ▁is ▁a ▁handle ▁for ▁g ri pping ▁and ▁man eu ver ing ▁before ▁it ▁tap ers ▁off ▁into ▁a ▁pick . ▁ ▁Fl oss ▁pick s ▁are ▁manufact ured ▁in ▁a ▁variety ▁of ▁shapes , ▁colors ▁and ▁sizes ▁for ▁adult s ▁and ▁children . ▁The ▁fl oss ▁can ▁be ▁co ated ▁in ▁flu or ide , ▁flav or ▁or ▁w ax . ▁ ▁History ▁of ▁fl oss ▁pick ▁In ▁ 1 8 8 8 , ▁B . T . ▁Mason ▁wrapped ▁a ▁f ibr ous ▁material ▁around ▁a ▁to oth pick ▁and ▁dub bed ▁it ▁the ▁' com bin ation ▁to oth ▁pick .' ▁In ▁ 1 9 1 6 , ▁J . P . ▁De ▁L ' eau ▁invent ed ▁a ▁dent al ▁fl oss ▁holder ▁between ▁two ▁vertical ▁pol es . ▁In ▁ 1 9 3 5 , ▁F . H . ▁Don er ▁invent ed ▁what ▁today ' s ▁consumer ▁knows ▁as ▁the ▁' Y '- sh aped ▁ang led ▁dent al ▁app liance . ▁In ▁ 1 9 6 3 , ▁James ▁B . ▁Kir by ▁invent ed ▁a ▁to oth - clean ing ▁device ▁that ▁res emb les ▁an ▁arch a ic ▁version ▁of ▁today ' s ▁F - sh aped ▁fl oss ▁pick . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 2 , ▁an ▁invent or ▁named ▁Richard ▁L . ▁Well s ▁found ▁a ▁way ▁to ▁attach ▁fl oss ▁to ▁a ▁single ▁pick ▁end . ▁In ▁the ▁same ▁year