Does Flossing Really Work?

Dana and Saul are roommates. Saul has a dentist appointment in an hour.

Saul: I’m a 25-year-old grown man but I still get nervous about going to the dentist.

Dana: It’s ok. It takes a lot of courage for a grown man to admit his fear for the dentist. If you have been flossing and brushing your teeth properly, I’m sure it will go smoothly.

Saul: That’s the problem. I hate flossing and I have to lie to the dentist about how I always floss after every meal.

Dana: Speaking of flossing, do you know that the Associated Press asked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Agriculture for their evidence that flossing actually works, and then received a letter back saying that they had never really researched the benefits of flossing?

 Saul: Oh yeah, I think I read an article somewhere with the similar subject. It said that the AP issued a report with 25 studies that compared benefits of flossing and brushing to just brushing alone. I think it stated that the evidence in favor of flossing ranged from “weak, very unreliable” to “very low.”

Dana: Exactly. Nevertheless, many dentists still say that flossing is not completely pointless. It helps remove plaque from in-between the teeth. People with wide tooth gaps still benefit from flossing since they are more likely to get tooth decay because of the bacteria accumulated between their teeth.

 

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