Some North Jersey dentists responded by saying they see evidence in favor of flossing every day in their practices. In 2013, Ross Pomeroy of Real Clear Science found that the high-quality research that does exist on flossing, such as a review of 12 relevant studies from the Cochrane Library, casts doubt on the benefits.
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For decades, the federal government – not to mention your dentist – has insisted daily flossing is necessary to prevent cavities and gums so diseased that your teeth fall out.
“That little reduction is important because it’s an area between the teeth where gum disease starts and also where the teeth contact where dental decay starts”, said Dr. Ciancio. The guidelines must be based on scientific evidence, under the law.
AP reporter Jeff Donn filed a Freedom of Information Act request with Departments of Health and Human Services and asked them what evidence is there to suggest we should floss for oral health?
This year, the federal government released its latest dietary guidelines and for the first time since 1979, the recommendation to use dental floss was removed from the list. In a letter to the AP, the government acknowledged the effectiveness of flossing had never been researched, as required.
An investigation by the Associated Press (AP) looked at “the most rigorous research” over the last decade that compared the use of a toothbrush with the use of floss and a toothbrush, finding the evidence for flossing was of “very low quality”.
Even companies with a big market share of the flossing business – by next year, the global market is predicted to reach nearly $2 billion, with half in the United States, according to publisher MarketSizeInfo.com – struggled to provide convincing evidence of their claims that floss reduces plaque or gingivitis.
Last year, Dr Edmond R Hewlett, a spokesman for the group and a professor of restorative dentistry at the University of California, Los Angeles, said: “We’re confident that disturbing the bacteria in plaque with brushing and flossing is, indeed, beneficial”.
“It’s low risk, low cost, so it doesn’t cost you a lot to floss”, he said. The ones that don’t floss build up more inflammation between their teeth. A recent report has surfaced which is good #News for people who don’t like to floss.
Part of the issue with research into dental floss is who funded the research – the floss manufacturers.
But Raschkovsky said that for the seriously floss-phobic, tools other than floss can produce a similar effect to classic flossing.
“And that is that patients who have good oral hygiene through brushing, flossing and cleaning between their teeth, and are making efforts to reduce the amount of sugar in their diet … they are seeing good results and are having positive oral health”.
From a very young age, it’s drilled into us that we need to floss daily to prevent gum disease and cavities.
27 percent of us lie to the dentist about it; another 36 percent would rather do something unpleasant, like scrub a toilet, than rub a little waxed string between our molars. We will make them as carefully and consistently as we can.
Image copyright AP Image caption Flossing incorrectly can cause damage to your teeth and gums Is flossing harmful?
Cape Girardeau resident Jennifer Wren said there’s one thing that she’s reminded every time she goes to the dentist.
It’s a familiar scene in a dentist’s office: he or she asks if you’ve been flossing regularly.
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And Water Pik, Inc. -the makers of Waterpik, a brand-name water-flossing tool-stands to benefit if Americans ditch their string. The floss should be used to scrape food off the sides of the teeth.
