To Floss Or Not To Floss

There has been a lot of hype these last two weeks about flossing. We have all heard from several sources that flossing really isn't as advantageous as we have been told by our dental professionals.

The people on the side of "not flossing" have said there is no statistical evidence that flossing helps. There have been no studies proving the worth of flossing. I can tell you from many years of experience that flossing DOES indeed help keep teeth and gums healthy in a comprehensive dental regime of brushing, flossing and regular dental visits. I have seen firsthand where patients with several levels or gum disease were helped immensely as their home care started to include flossing. That same observation occurred with a decrease of tooth decay in patients who had never flossed.

On the negative side:

• It takes extra time to do
• Some people have difficulty doing it correctly
• The gums might bleed as you floss (but this stops when the gums become healthy with good home care)
• You do have to keep a supply of floss around
• There may be some contours of the teeth that flossing does not reach

On the positive side

• It does clean the sides of the teeth which decreases acid buildup from plaque that causes cavities
• Reduction in plaque keeps gums healthy and strong
• Keeping the sides of the teeth clean decreases gum swelling which will spread teeth apart and create spaces
• Gums will bleed much less, if at all, when done correctly
• Esthetics are much better as swelling and bleeding are kept to a minimum
• As more plaque is removed between the teeth there is less mouth odor

So as can be seen, we as dental professionals are firm believers in flossing. It is indeed true that brushing and flossing on their own will not do it all. Every dental care program MUST include regular visits to the dentist at 3 to 6 month intervals to clean those areas that can't be reached by brushing or flossing alone. We are here to help all our patients attain and then maintain a very healthy mouth! 

Photo by The Clear Communication People