The numerous news reports in recent history questioning the effectiveness of flossing certainly caused an uproar in the dental community – and rightfully so. As dental professionals, we see firsthand how gum inflammation and disease can affect a person’s oral health and overall health.
The reports cited “lack of long-term studies.” True - there have not been million dollar, fully funded studies on the efficacy of flossing in itself (such as ones done when testing a new medicine), but what we do know has been studied is the correlation between periodontal disease and conditions in the body, such as diabetes, heart disease, and more. As dental professionals, our long term relationships with our patients allows us to see firsthand the positive impact that flossing can have on your oral health, as well as the negative impact not flossing can have. Your mouth is home to many types of bacteria, some good and some not so good. When the bad types of bacteria combine with foods you eat and liquids you drink, it forms a film of sticky plaque around and in between your teeth, as well as along the gum line. Left to build up, the plaque will then harden, resulting in inflamed, tender, bleeding gums.
If you’re not flossing, you miss cleaning 35% of the tooth’s surface. You wouldn’t only paint 65% of your house, would you? So why would you only clean 65% of your teeth? Think about it…gums that are not flossed regularly are soft, spongy, inflamed - and they bleed - a lot. Bleeding, inflamed gums are not healthy! It doesn’t matter what type or brand you use, as long as you do it every day. Flossing works. Period :).