Dentists Urge the Public Not to Stop Flossing, Despite Lack of Evidence
Despite recent claims that there is little evidence to prove that flossing prevents cavities or stops gum disease, British dental experts have advised the public to continue doing it as part of their dental routine.
The US government have dropped flossing guidance due to lack of scientific basis and the NHS is considering whether it should still be recommended in the UK.
Although recent findings from an Associated Press investigation revealed that most flossing studies were unreliable, British dental organisations claim to have seen strong benefits in the surgery and have urged the NHS to stick with the recommendation.
According to the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy, regular interdental cleaning is still a beneficial accompaniment to brushing, whether with floss or an interdental brush.
President of the BSDHT, Michaela ONeill, said that though the effectiveness of flossing hasn’t been scientifically proven, one major problem with the research so far is that it makes certain conclusions that can’t be applied to each and every patient, as everyone has different needs. She added that tooth brushing alone cleans three tooth services, when our teeth actually have 5, so cleaning between them plays a crucial part in preventing gum disease by getting rid of plaque that has been missed by the brush.
The NHS website currently includes a seven-step flossing guide and details the benefits of the practice for plaque removal, whereas the British Dental Association’s scientific advisers recommend interdental brushes instead, claiming that flossing is largely ineffective.
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