Should I Floss? What Would a Dentist Near Me Say?
To floss or not to floss? You might hear arguments claiming that flossing has been over-hyped and not that effective in preventing oral health problems. But the American Dental Association (ADA) and other public health agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly disagree.
While some experts claim that there is limited research on the benefits of flossing, that doesn’t mean the practice is pointless. Here’s why you shouldn’t omit flossing from your daily dental routine.
Why Flossing Is Important
The ADA is firm in its stance on flossing, calling it “an essential part of taking care of your teeth and gums.” The CDC also points out that daily flossing helps remove the plaque that contributes to gum disease.
Even the best brushing doesn’t get into all your dental crannies and cracks. Those hidden food particles cause plaque, which leads to cavities and gum disease.
Take It from Your Hometown Dentist
Though the scientific research on flossing may not be as extensive as you might think, the results of proper flossing are obvious to any dentist. The best local dentists in Cincinnati will tell you to floss, including Dr. Schmerler and Dr. Hynes at Beckham Square Family Dental.
But don’t take our word for it. Ask Dr. Tim Iafolla, Chief of the Program Analysis and Reporting Branch at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). When asked whether it’s okay to skip flossing because of the lack of long-term research, Dr. Iafolla says, “The short answer is no. Cleaning all sides of your teeth, including between your teeth where the toothbrush can’t reach, is a good thing.”
He goes on to say, “Although long-term, large-scale studies of flossing are somewhat limited, researchers have found modest benefits from flossing in small, short-term studies . . . The fact that there hasn’t been a long-term, huge population-based study of flossing doesn’t mean that flossing is not effective. It simply suggests that large, multi-year studies of individual health behaviors (of any kind, flossing included) are difficult and expensive to conduct.”
So, keep flossing. If you haven’t flossed often before, there will naturally be some bleeding when you start up again. That’s not unusual; it will lessen the more often you floss.
Flossing Guidance from a Local Dental Professional
At Beckham Square Family Dental, located in Blue Ash, we’ll be glad to give you a few flossing pointers. During your next dental check-up, your hygienist or dentist can also discuss other forms of interdental cleaning, such as dental picks, water flossers, and interdental brushes.