In the past month, there’s been plenty of controversy and debate surrounding the effectiveness of flossing. As covered in a recent issue of Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture no longer recommends flossing, as its effectiveness has recently been speculated. So, should you still floss your teeth? While many experts suggest flossing is not as important as it was once thought to be, many dentists strongly disagree with the recent claims, including our expert dentists at Quality Dental Care.
Here at our Omaha office, Dr. Trumm and his fellow colleagues still find flossing to be an essential part of daily oral care. Despite the recent and ongoing debate, flossing is still crucial in preventing tooth decay and gum disease, but not everyone agrees. Let’s take a moment to discuss the recent controversy and find out if you really don’t need to floss your teeth.
The Recent Debate: To Floss or Not to Floss?
When it comes down to it, lack of evidence is the main argument in claiming flossing isn’t as effective as we all once thought. In contrast, however, you could say the same about not flossing, as there’s also lacking evidence in support of such. Regardless, evidence in favor of flossing is apparently quite weak, which has many experts discounting flossing as a necessary practice in promoting oral health. While there’s some evidence showing flossing and brushing, in comparison to brushing alone, did reduce the risk of gingivitis, evidence is still deemed unsupportive.
Despite the lack of evidence in the debate, plenty of dentists still encourage patients to floss their teeth. One main issue these dentists see in the studies is whether or not the patients studied were flossing properly, as there are indeed ways to floss your teeth correctly. When flossing, it’s recommended you hook the floss in a “C” shape around each side of the tooth to thoroughly remove plaque. When done correctly, many dentists in support of flossing say, you can surely reduce your risk of cavities and gum disease.
What Happens When You Don’t Floss Your Teeth?
While those who fail to see the importance of flossing may disagree, your toothbrush alone can’t reach certain areas between your teeth. Within these gaps in between each of your teeth, disease-causing plaque will build up and ultimately result in cavities, gingivitis, or gum disease. Proper flossing will help remove this harmful plaque and prevent issues from arising. So while it may lack support, flossing your teeth is still seen as beneficial by many, including experienced dentists across the globe.
If you still need a little convincing to get your flossing habits back on track, take a listen to what Quality Dental Care’s very own Dr. Lecci has to say about the dental debate, as she was recently featured on the morning news radio here in Omaha. Check it out below:
Don’t Forget Regular Checkups
Considering both sides of the argument, it can be difficult to decide between flossing your teeth or skipping the possibly-pointless task. However, there’s no harm in flossing when done properly, and it may just prevent any issues from arising. If you ask us, we’d recommend all of our Omaha patients continue flossing. Additionally, you should come into Quality Dental Care for regular checkups and teeth cleanings twice a year.
If you’d like to schedule an appointment, in which we’ll properly floss your teeth, you can contact us here or give us a call at 402.431.8844.