NY inmates sue for dental floss and $500 million - NEWS10 ABC: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports

NY inmates sue for dental floss and $500 million

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NEW YORK (AP) - Several inmates in a New York jail have filed a $500 million lawsuit because they're not allowed to use dental floss.
    
In a federal lawsuit first reported by The Journal News, the Westchester County inmates claim they're losing teeth and suffering pain.
    
They claim that the jail acknowledges the need for floss and that other jails permit flossing.
    
The lawsuit names the county and its corrections commissioner, among others.
    
A call to the commissioner was not immediately returned. A corrections spokesman told The Journal News that the jail is not required to offer floss but is looking into it.
    
The lawsuit claims inmates need floss because when cavities develop they are given only temporary fillings, which eventually fall out and lead to tooth loss or chronic pain.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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