Representatives of the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) acknowledged the weakness of published evidence pointing to flossing’s benefits, but they largely stuck to their existing advice. So this year the flossing recommendation was removed from the guidelines.
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AP also found the focus of many studies off: “Such research, like the reviewed studies, focused on warning signs like bleeding and inflammation, barely dealing with gum disease or cavities”.
Meanwhile, Tim Iafolla, a dentist from the US National Institutes of Health said that when purely looking at the science, dropping the floss guidelines would be appropriate.
“Since neither the 2010 nor 2015 Advisory Committees reviewed evidence on brushing and flossing teeth, the authors of the current edition decided not to carry forward the information on brushing and flossing included in past editions of the guidelines”, she says. But he thinks many people don’t floss correctly, because they move the floss in a sawing motion instead of up and down the sides of their teeth.
Flossing has been recommended since 1908 to prevent cavities and tooth decay.
“The AP looked at the most rigorous research conducted over the past decade, focusing on 25 studies that generally compared the use of a toothbrush with the combination of toothbrushes and floss”, according to the report.
Gum health researchers told us there’s a lack of quality research when it comes to floss. It shows weak and unreliable evidence but dentists are still encouraging patients to floss. “So if I don’t clean two of the five surfaces, that’s 40 percent of the surfaces of the tooth”. And my concern is that the public picks up on this and says ‘Oh, flossing is not a benefit.
The British Dental Association said: “Floss is of little value unless the spaces between your teeth are too tight for the interdental brushes to fit without hurting or causing harm”.
“It does work! You just have to have patience!”
It makes a difference in your mouth, they say.
Local Dental Hygienist, Darbi Beck, said if you stop flossing, you may feel pain and your hygienist will notice.
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He added that “more sophisticated trials” were needed.
