The Facts about Flossing
This August, the US Department of Health and Human Services removed “flossing” from its list of recommended health practices. Since then, sources such as the New York Times, The Daily News, and the BBC have published articles questioning the efficacy of the famously underappreciated hygiene method. Although news sources will continue to debate the necessity of flossing, the answer remains the same: flossing is an essential part of your daily dental routine. Here are some of the reasons you may have heard that flossing doesn’t do much for your teeth—and why these assumptions are false.
“There are no studies that connect flossing and increased risk of gum disease.”
The main reason that flossing was removed from the proven healthy practices by the US Health Department was a lack of proof that flossing helps prevent gum disease. However, gum disease can take years to develop—and most studies linking flossing to gum disease tend to last for only weeks or months. Because these studies are short-term, scientists can only hypothesize that increased gum health from flossing will decrease the risk of gum disease in the future.
“You can’t prove that.”
That’s partially true—for now. But that’s because there is a lack of long-term studies linking flossing to reduced gum disease risk, not because there is no evidence to support the connection. What studies can prove is that flossing promotes gum strength and decreases inflammation and gingivitis—both of which are precursors to gum disease. Researchers and dentists alike agree that reducing the risk of these short-term complications will likely help prevent gum disease in the future.
“I can get along just fine without flossing as long as I brush my teeth.”
According to a study by the American Academy of Periodontology, 15% of adults would prefer to clean a toilet than floss their teeth. With the recent debate over the necessity of flossing, many adults may feel relieved to hear that they don’t have to floss. However, walk into any dentist’s office across the country, and you’ll hear the same advice: Brush AND floss. Although studies on flossing haven’t followed test subjects long enough to prove definitive long-term benefits, dentists agree that flossing is an essential component of oral health.
True, it’s easy to floss less than necessary and lie to your dentist about it. But some forms of “biofilms”—the bacteria that build up in your mouth—can only be removed by flossing the regions not reachable with a toothbrush. And in terms of oral health, two methods are always better than one.
Still have questions about your flossing habits? Contact us today to schedule your next check-up.
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Dr. Satish delivers compassionate, prevention-focused dental care using advanced techniques to support lifelong oral health for families.
Meet Dr. Satish
