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Despite Change in Recommendations, Dentists Encourage Flossing
Georgiou says it would take a study at least 25 years to prove the long-term benefits of flossing, and that would be hard and expensive. The evidence from those studies all showed that flossing one’s teeth is actually, weak and unreliable.
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“The majority of available studies fail to demonstrate that flossing is generally effective in plaque removal”, a 2015 review said.
She said that whether the science supports flossing or not, dentists see firsthand that it works. The report is controversial among dentists because their patients are thinking they don’t need to floss any longer. Numerous case studies that “proved” flossing helped prevent gum disease and plaque build-up were conducted on too few people and lasted only weeks-far too short a time to accurately gauge whether the practice makes a difference. He still encourages his patients to floss, but in the correct matter up and down the sides of teeth and not in a sawing motion.
The ADA will continue recommending flossing regardless of the study outcome.
If it’s any consolation, there is some evidence that flossing does reduce bloody gums and gum inflammation known as gingivitis. The studies typically compared the use of a toothbrush alone with the combined used of a toothbrush and floss. Dentist Levi Spear Parmly is credited with inventing floss in the early 19th century.
“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. “It’s important to tell people to do the basics”.
Since 1979, the federal government has included the use of dental floss as part of the health recommendation guidelines, according to News 6.
If done incorrectly, flossing can cause harm.
Floss can occasionally cause harm, with poor technique leading to damaged gums and teeth.
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The BDA said: “Small inter-dental brushes are best for cleaning the area in between the teeth, where there is space to do so”. Most trials were too short to determine if flossing could have long-term impacts on things like tooth decay, the researchers who conducted that review concluded.