|
Yes, You Should Still Floss Your Teeth.
Flossing has been making a big splash over the past few weeks. The U.S. Department of Health's latest updates to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans publication excluding the recommendation to floss coupled with the Associated Press'
review of several existing studies on flossing are causing quite the stir. T
he published evidence to support the effectiveness of flossing to prevent gum disease or tooth decay is weak at best, which is pretty well known in the industry. However, a lack of evidence doesn't necessarily mean lack of effectiveness.
Here's what we do know: flossing is an affordable and easy way to remove plaque, a major cause of both tooth decay and gum disease, if done well and regularly. Even in the absence of solid evidence to support flossing, if you follow this simple practice each day, along with basic good oral health habits like daily brushing, healthy diet, not smoking and getting regular dental check-ups, you are making strides toward preventing gum disease and tooth decay.
Here's the bottom line: having last night's dinner in between your teeth is neither good for your oral health nor appealing to those with whom you interact. Our simple advice: keep flossing.
|
