Albertville, AL
If you remain connected to the constant flood of online news, you probably heard about the Associated Press’s (AP) recent article about how flossing is no longer necessary for good oral health. Their article states there is little to no scientific evidence that flossing promotes oral health. Now the confusion sets in. What are patients to do when their dentists and dental hygienists consistently encourage daily flossing? Well, stop right there and finish reading this before you throw away your floss for good.
The AP claims there are not studies that back up the flossing claim, which is only partly true. There are studies on how flossing improves oral health and wards off periodontal disease, but the AP believes these studies were too short and took into account a small number of participants. You will likely not see any lengthy studies on this matter either, because to do so would cost millions of dollars, when these studies may not even be necessary in the first place. Consider instead, the practical aspect of flossing.
We know for certain, based on scientific data, that flossing does, in fact, remove bacteria from in between our teeth. We must not forget to clean between our teeth because otherwise, we are only cleaning about two-thirds of our mouths. It is also proven that bacteria, when left in the mouth, will eventually turn into plaque, and become a hard substance known as tartar. When tartar is left on the teeth, it inevitably causes gum inflammation, and infection known as gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease.
Do you see a connection here? Not removing bacteria from the mouth will lead gum disease and poor oral health. What better way to clean between than with inexpensive floss? Sometimes, it is best to trust the process, and in this case, understand that not properly cleaning between your teeth will not end well for your oral health.
Do you really need a study to prove that flossing is beneficial? It is kind of like jumping out of an airplane with a parachute. Why do you use a parachute in the first place? There have not been scientific studies to support that jumping out of an airplane with a parachute will save your life. Why not? Because there is a practical application in this sense, and the same is true for flossing. There may not be many studies to prove flossing is, in fact, necessary for your oral health, but we certainly know what will happen if you don’t.
Instead throwing your floss away, talk to your dentist about how important flossing is to your oral health.
For more information about oral health, or to schedule an appointment, contact Wall Street Dentistry today at (256) 878-0525. We welcome patients of Albertville and Boaz, Alabama.
