New report says flossing is a 'waste of time'

Most of us dread having to go to the dentist in fear of being asked, ‘How often have you been flossing?’

We usually lie, leave the surgery feeling guilty and try convince ourselves we’ll do better. But no. We’re busy people with little to no time for much more than brushing our teeth let alone flossing.

Well, lucky for those who can’t keep promises to their dentist to rid the excess plaque from between our pearly whites, flossing has been found to be “weak” and “inconclusive.”

In fact, following an Associated Press (AP) investigation in the US, flossing was found to do more harm than good if done incorrectly.

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AP reporter Jeff Donn filed a Freedom of Information Act request with Departments of Health and Human Services and asked them what evidence is there to suggest we should floss for oral health?

Despite dentists and governments still advocating that flossing prevents gum disease and cavities, in the latest American dietary guidelines flossing, had been taken out without notice, as the US government realised enough research hadn’t been conducted to back it up.

Donn looked at 25 studies and their results were “weak, very unreliable,” of “very low” quality, and carry “a moderate to large potential for bias,” said a review conducted last year.

“The majority of available studies fail to demonstrate that flossing is generally effective in plaque removal,” it said.

To give our practitioners some credit for making us floss, a 2011 review found flossing slightly reduced gum inflammation, which over time, could turn into gum disease.

Leading health professionals from the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), acknowledged the weak scientific evidence but claimed most studies were outdated, inconsistent, too brief or tested too few people.

Wayne Aldredge, president of the AAP, told Donn the impacts of flossing may be more prominent if researchers focused on those such as diabetics and smokers with a high risk of gum disease.

As well, he claims many people don't know how to floss correctly. You should be moving the floss up and down the sides of the teeth instead of in a sawing motion.

According to medical literature, if you floss incorrectly, it can cause more harm than good, damaging your gums, teeth and the hard work your dentist has put in, as well as possibly causing infections due to dislodged bacteria.

So the next time your dentist asks you how your flossing routine has been, just tell him the truth because science is on your side.

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