Is All That Flossing Really Worth It?

Is All That Flossing Really Worth It?
August 22, 2016

Review of available data finds no good evidence for a benefit, despite dental groups' recommendations.

Your mom told you to floss from an early age, and you try your best to keep up the habit because it saves gums and teeth.

Or does it? A new investigation by the Associated Press suggests there's no good evidence backing up the claim that flossing is good for you.

The AP looked at data from 25 studies conducted over the past decade. The studies generally compared the use of a toothbrush alone with combined use of a toothbrush and floss.

Those studies concluded the evidence for flossing is "weak, very unreliable," of "very low" quality, and carries "a moderate to large potential for bias."

One review went further, saying that the "majority of available studies fail to demonstrate that flossing is generally effective in plaque removal," the AP reported. Another said there was only "inconsistent/weak evidence" for flossing and a "lack of efficacy."

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