After seeing the recent news reporting that flossing is not a significant factor in maintaining oral health, many of my patients and friends have asked me for my opinion.
Responses from several health and dental organizations like the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Periodontology and the National Institute of Health, refute the recent report and encourage people to maintain their dental health discipline of flossing once per day along with brushing twice per day for two minutes.
Let’s face it, flossing isn’t high on anyone’s list of favorite activities. But, every day in our office we see that flossing — as part of a regular dental hygiene routine — does a great job in helping our patients prevent gum disease, and gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss in adults. There is no question that flossing removes plaque and debris lodged between your teeth, and that is certainly good for your overall health.
As your dentist I can assure you that I will continue to floss every day because flossing is a very effective practice in the battle against gum disease and cavities. I recommend that you and your family continue to floss everyday as well.
