Flossing is All the Buzz!

Source: http://myteethforever.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/tim-loughran-dentistry-floss.jpg

Media outlets around the country, including the New York Times, ran an article yesterday touting that flossing may no longer be necessary. 

The article cites "all flossing may be overrated." The buzz comes from the quiet removal of the instruction to floss daily in the latest dietary guidelines published by the Department of Agriculture and Health and Human Services. This decision came about because the control groups used to show the effectiveness of flossing were not large enough to prove its necessity in preventing oral health problems.

While health professionals agree the control groups should have been larger, and larger studies need to take place, the American Dental Association (ADA) published its own article yesterday stating that "Interdental cleaning is proven to help remove debris between teeth that can contribute to plaque buildup."

The people who consistently choose not to floss may find some justification for their choice with this recent news story, but the reality is those who have developed good oral hygiene habits will continue to floss because the results are visible and tangible, and dentists across the country will continue to tell their patients that flossing is a critical component to their oral health care needs. 

Think of it this way. Every day we take out the trash in our homes, and weekly the city comes to collect that garbage. If food is left behind in a trash can, and it is exposed to the elements, it will begin to rot and smell horrible. The same is true with plaque. If you are not regularly "taking out the trash" or removing debris from hard to reach spots in your mouth, that plaque (which contains 500 species of bacteria by the way) will rot and smell much the same way inside your mouth.

Source: http://www.esteticaa.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/estetica-plaque.jpg

The bottom line is keeping your mouth clear of debris through brushing and flossing or using a water flosser, along with regular dental cleanings will result in a happier, healthy mouth. Gingivitis will not set in as quickly, which leads to serious gum disease, and further health problems.

The choice, of course, is yours, but as for our office - we will keep on flossing!

Call us if you have any questions or concerns about this important topic - 

541-451-1440.