Flossing Study

It’s True.  You may have heard about the new “flossing controversy” released. It claims that flossing is not effective and it’s been a ploy that dentists and dental hygienists have been using for years, just to get everyone to floss. Dental professionals want to waste their breath at every. single. appointment. so that you can ignore us and be convinced it will be life changing.  Don’t be so quick to stop flossing!  The science hasn’t proven that its bad…it just proves that most people floss incorrectly and won’t benefit. Those who floss correctly have healthier gums and less decay in their mouth. Those that don’t floss correctly are, lets just say unhealthy. Floss reaches the areas of your teeth that the toothbrush can’t reach.  Ever wonder why your gums bleed when you floss, but not when you brush?  Repeat, because its reaching those areas that the toothbrush can’t reach!  See our flossing video HERE.

Cute girl cleaning teeth by floss in bathroom

The Study

When the government issued the latest dietary guidelines this year, the flossing recommendation had been removed, without notice.  They says that the effectiveness of flossing has never been researched. However, most of the research uses outdated methods or tested few people. Some lasted only two weeks, far too brief for a cavity or dental disease to develop. One tested 25 people after only a single use of floss. Most research focuses on the warning signs like bleeding and inflammation, barely dealing with gum disease or cavities.  Although there have been billions of dollars in research, few studies can prove that the technique is done correctly.  How to floss correctly.


What can I do if I don’t want to floss?

The exception to flossing can be some other type of stimulation with the gums, to reduce inflammation in another way. Think of an electric toothbrush, a Waterpik or some proxa brushes. Again, you can have all of these things but you HAVE to use them correctly and routinely.  Also keep in mind that these products don’t reach the tight areas between the teeth where cavities can form, think of that “click” when you floss.  Visualize washing your hands when your fingers are squeezed tight together. You can wash and smell delicious like the new Lemon Buttercream scent at Bath and Body Works, but that dirt is still in between those fingers people.  Get it?


I use a Sonicare, is that good enough?

An electric toothbrush, not a battery powered one, will provide stimulation and blood circulation that no manual toothbrush can possibly give. A good example is an Oral B or Sonicare that has a special patent sonic force which forces thousand of bubbles underneath the gums to disrupt bacteria and scrub those gums gently.  The plaque is removed and it feels so smooth, like getting your teeth polished!

I use a Waterpik, are those good?

Then think of a Waterpik….wow, this thing is Strong! Once you get the hang of it and stop spraying your entire bathroom mirror and soaking yourself, chances are that you’ll be astounded with the stuff that comes out from between your teeth! Finally think of interdental cleaners like toothpicks, proxabrushes and Soft-picks.  These tiny devices are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G to remove things from your teeth discreetly.


How do I floss correctly?

If you need to brush up on your flossing technique, or you are just a visual learner, check out my video HERE on how to floss correctly.

So take a deep breath, have some faith, and use that supply of floss that you have been hoarding over the years from your dental hygienist. You won’t regret it, I promise.

While I love my floss and can’t go without it, I also love my Soft-picks at dinner or around friends.  There’s little more disgusting than sitting around a table and picking out the residual food you just consumed.  So I break off a soft-pick and dislodge that piece of lettuce that always gets stuck between #8 and #9 (dental nerd terms for your front teeth), while massaging my gums to keep them healthy.  What’s more disgusting than flossing at the table, is removing it from someones teeth after 4 to 6 months of not flossing at all. Eww, maybe Jimmy Fallon thought of Sarah’s skit when thinking of dental hygienists!