Flossing your teeth could be a complete waste of time

The government has issued the flossing advice since 1979, in a Surgeon General’s report and in its Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which must be supported by scientific evidence.

After admitting in a letter to the AP investigation that the “effectiveness of flossing had never been researched” the United States government has removed its recommendation for a daily flossing routine in its dietary guidelines.

The Associated Press looked at the most rigorous research conducted over the past decade that compared the use of a toothbrush with the combination of toothbrushes and floss. But it’s been something of an open secret among experts that flossing hasn’t been shown to prevent cavities or periodontal disease.

Count dentist Damien Walmsley, scientific adviser to the British Dental Association, among the skeptics.

You die-hard dental nerds out there can still floss, though.

He recommends waiting for more definitive evidence that flossing has no benefits before throwing away the floss for good.

If it’s any consolation, there is some evidence that flossing does reduce bloody gums and gum inflammation known as gingivitis. The little research the ADA does have doesn’t prove flossing makes a difference either way.

“Flossing to me is important because when I went there last time I was about like 17 and they were like there are some parts in between your teeth that are breaking down because you don’t floss”, says Lucretia Jenkins. “It’s low risk, low cost”, he said.

She and her colleagues see a significant difference in gum health in a year’s time if a patient has started to floss consistently, McFarland said.

Many people also use floss incorrectly, Aldredge said, moving it in a sawing motion instead of up and down the sides of the teeth.

Although the recent findings from the Associated Press don’t agree, Dr. Vela said not flossing clean leave to decay and gum disease.

Cutler told us that most people run into problems when they don’t brush their teeth for two minutes in the morning and before bedtime.