#flossing101

The effectiveness of dental flossing has been called into question following a report by the Associated Press (AP) global news agency. In August 2016, Associated Press circulated a story that claimed evidence in support of flossing was “weak and unreliable.” The news agency based this conclusion on a new statement by the federal government that recommendations for flossing were not substantiated by research.However, shaky evidence in favour of flossing is not proof that it’s ineffective, and it may well be that the research was limited or flawed. The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) insists that the fragility of evidence backing the value of flossing reflects the “difficulty of conducting the necessary studies” – not the effectiveness of flossing itself. The CDA maintains that flossing, along with a healthy diet and regular dental check-ups, is important for oral healthcare.

It’s not uncommon to stick to a strict brushing regime, but leave out flossing altogether. Many people are unaware of the health risks of not flossing and believe that a toothbrush can perform the same thorough job.The truth is that a toothbrush merely cleans the tops and outer surfaces of the teeth and gums, whereas string flossers clean the tight spaces in between. Water flossers do the same thing but they’re more expensive.

The effectiveness of dental flossing has been called into question following a report by the Associated Press (AP) global news agency. In August 2016, Associated Press circulated a story that claimed evidence in support of flossing was “weak and unreliable.” The news agency based this conclusion on a new statement by the federal government that recommendations for flossing were not substantiated by research.However, shaky evidence in favour of flossing is not proof that it’s ineffective, and it may well be that the research was limited or flawed. The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) insists that the fragility of evidence backing the value of flossing reflects the “difficulty of conducting the necessary studies” – not the effectiveness of flossing itself. The CDA maintains that flossing, along with a healthy diet and regular dental check-ups, is important for oral healthcare.