The federal government since 1979 that dental patients floss at least once a day. The studies found the evidence for flossing was “weak” and “very unreliable”.
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One review conducted past year said: “The majority of available studies fail to demonstrate that flossing is generally effective in plaque removal”.
She remembers learning that a lot of patients lie to their dentists about how much they floss.
Of course, the American Dental Association and American Academy of Periodontology cited other studies to the AP supposedly backing up the benefits of flossing. Because, along with other generally accepted health truths-like how we need milk to grow strong bones, or how butter causes coronary blockages the size of cantaloupes-the age old adage that flossing prevents gingivitis and plaque is allegedly not so true. ADA spokesman Matthew Messina did acknowledge that there’s only weak evidence for flossing, but said that was due to study participants who didn’t floss correctly.
A 2013 study in the journal CardioRenal Medicine, for example, found that people suffering from chronic kidney disease and gum disease were more likely to die of heart disease, a leading cause of death among those with kidney problems.
The AP spent a year researching claims that flossing leads to better dental health. Flossing is still considered so crucial to health that it’s included in one of the questions in the Living to 100 Life Expectancy Calculator, a tool that uses metrics like diet and exercise to determine your approximate life expectancy. When there was a correlation, the studies used descriptors like “inconsistent/weak evidence” or “very unreliable” and “lack of efficacy”.
Flossing has always been touted by dentists as a practice that helps prevent gum disease.
According to a report by the Associated Press, there is little evidence that flossing actually works.
The global dental floss market is expected to reach $2 billion by next year. Snap the floss straight down into your gums, and you can irritate them. “Although the official recommendation for flossing might not be the same across the board, flossing helps reduce the risks of interproximal tooth decay and gingivitis”, he said, referring to the bad stuff that happens in between your teeth. Though frequency is unclear, floss can dislodge bad bacteria that invade the bloodstream and cause risky infections, especially in people with weak immunity, according to medical literature. As one dentists says: “It’s low risk, low cost”.
We know there’s a possibility it works makes a fine epitaph for the latest bit of “settled science” to bite the dust.
Stay on topic – This helps keep the thread focused on the discussion at hand.
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Say what!? Yep, all those stern looks and guilt you’ve endured once a year since the beginning of time have been for nothing!
