The Associated Press reported that the Federal Government was asked to provide evidence in 2015 to support the claim that flossing prevents gum disease and cavities.
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It’s a recommendation that started in 1979 by the federal government.
A Eugene dentist said he will still recommend flossing, even though the government recently dropped the recommendation. The guidelines must be based on scientific evidence, under the law.
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.
“You know there are no long term studies on it”.
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.
At Smiles 4 Keeps in Scranton, Dr. Wezmar admits it would be challenging for research to focus on the effectiveness of flossing.
“Actually the bacteria that causes decay that floss is trying to get out of the mouth is linked to heart disease, diabetes and problems with women that are expecting”, Dr. Wezmar said.
Jacob Washeleski says he flosses daily.
Therefore, it is important to clean the other half by flossing.
Dentists and hygienists have pushed the practice for years – make sure you floss daily, and take care of your teeth and gums. “This is a prime example of what happens when you don’t have adequately powered…studies with enough patients”, said Dr. Christopher W. Cutler, Chairman of Periodontics at the Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University.
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“I know what comes off the floss because I grow it in the lab, and what’s coming off the floss is a lot of the bad bugs that infect your gums”, said Cutler. I’m living proof, they just should have studied me! “The question is, it certainly doesn’t hurt anything if you’re doing it”, Wezmar said.
