Now, the AP is questioning whether the US government’s guidelines on flossing, as per the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, are based on scientific evidence, and whether they need to be revised. So this year the flossing recommendation was removed from the guidelines. This week, The Associated Press reported that officials had never researched the effectiveness of regular flossing, as required, before cajoling Americans to do it.
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Other studies that were conducted in the past 10 years said that the evidence found that supports flossing were very low quality, unreliable, and there was a moderate to large potential for bias. “They are typically avid flossers”.
When the ADA was asked for proof of its claim that flossing helps prevent early gum disease and cavities, the group cited the 2011 review and a 2008 two-week study that measured bacteria and did not even consider gum disease.
Although he agrees there is lack of evidence, he hopes this new information will prompt new studies.
Doctors and dentists are gritting their teeth and telling patients to not overreact to a new report that questions the benefits of flossing.
The Associated Press looked at 25 studies over the last decade, comparing the effects of tooth-brushing alone with the combination of tooth-brushing and flossing. According to Donn, a representative for the organization “acknowledged weak evidence, but he blamed research participants who didn’t floss correctly”. “Ultimately those two sides are going to rot away quicker”.
Jacob Washeleski says he flosses daily.
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Many are now wondering if we have been strung along by a flossing fable for years, and you may already be itching to oust the minty-waxed from your medicine cabinet. However, he also said that people should still floss. Well, it turns out that you and your dentist may be wasting your time on the topic of flossing. Many floss companies go to great lengths and payouts to get an American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance slapped onto their product because of its influence on buyers. “We know that people who floss retain their teeth, so why research it?”
