After all your dentist’s nagging, we don’t even know if flossing works

Then, when the government released the latest Dietary Guidelines For Americans this year, the recommendation to floss was suspiciously absent. However, the federal government isn’t too sure about that. It says the federal government has never researched how well it works. Whether it was from our parents or our dentist, everyone was taught that flossing every day is good for your teeth.

Though he said about a third of his patients ignore the advice, he called it “irresponsible” to remove the flossing guideline. On top of that, some studies are funded and designed by flossing companies, which introduces bias for obvious reasons.

Image caption Is there evidence to back up claims that flossing is good for you?

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.

Not ones to automatically discount four decades’ worth of stern talking to’s by their dentists, AP researchers took it upon themselves to look up some of the “most rigorous research” conducted on flossing over the last decade.

The acknowledgement came after a US Freedom of Information request was made to the American health, human services and agriculture departments regarding evidence for the health benefits of flossing. The federal government has recommended daily flossing – preferably after every meal – since 1979, but there is no real evidence that proves the practice is effective.

The American Dental Association’s website says flossing “is an essential part of taking care of your teeth and gums”.

“Wayne Aldredge, president of the periodontists’ group, acknowledged the weak scientific evidence and the brief duration of many studies”.

“We get referrals from the heart center and Mercy and Mayo prior to surgery for the patients because they know the importance of oral health in relationship to risk factors and also healing times with surgery”, says Dr. Jay Lala, Central Park Dentistry. Plaque is the main cause of gum disease.

The AP’s inquiry centred around the recommendation of flossing that has been published in the list of Dietary Guidelines for Americans since 1980.

A British dentist at the University of Birmingham, Prof Damien Walmsley, also said there is only “weak evidence” to suggest flossing is beneficial.