The AP went full Woodward and Bernstein on Big Floss since they noticed flossing wasn’t part of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. But how useful is it really? Most dentists said they will continue telling their patients about the benefits of flossing.
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A leading dentist has said there is only “weak evidence” flossing stops gum disease and cavities – despite it being recommended by most in the profession.
If you had time to floss your teeth this morning in between throwing on your clothes, grabbing a coffee and running out of the door, chances are you’re feeling pretty smug right now.
For years dental organizations have been touting the health benefits of flossing, but researchers now say there is no scientific evidence to support the claims. Some dentists say flossing helps protect your teeth and keep your gums healthy.
“If you think about a tooth having five sides – a front, a back, a top, and two sides – if the front and the back are where the teeth touch other teeth, toothbrush bristles can’t get in there”, Hardison said.
There is little proof that using dental floss every day prevents gum disease and cavities, the U.S. federal government has admitted.
What does the evidence say? Studies examined by the AP only included a few people, they included outdated methods, or they didn’t last for very long.
In its investigation, the Associated Press looked at the most recent rigorous research, focusing on studies that generally compared the use of a toothbrush with the combination of toothbrushes and floss.
When asked about it through the Freedom of Information Act, government officials revealed a report that found the majority of studies fail to demonstrate flossing is effective in removing plaque.
“It’s not something that’s costly or time-consuming”, said Payne, who also is a professor of dentistry at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
He added “more sophisticated trials” were needed. This year, a year when the guideline was published, the recommendation for flossing did not appear in the guide. The government even removed flossing from their dietary guidelines this year. “These are two of the most common issues dentists see, and the easiest way to prevent these problems.is with proper flossing”. Each manufacturer is charged 14,500 dollars (£10,970) for this evaluation.
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The ADA later said flossing “removes plaque” and “is proven to help remove” debris from between teeth. But the AP found there is nearly no reliable evidence proving that.
