ADA, Federal Agencies: Flossing Still “Essential.”
After an AP story questioned the benefits of dental flossing due to lacking research, the American Dental Association, federal agencies, dentists, and others have come out in support of continuing the practice. The ADA News(8/2, Manchir) reported the ADA released a statement emphasizing the federal government and the ADA stand behind the recommendation to clean between teeth with an interdental cleaner once a day. The ADA stated, “The bottom line for dentists and patients is that a lack of strong evidence doesn’t equate to a lack of effectiveness. As doctors of oral health, dentists are in the best position to advise their patients on oral hygiene practices because they know their patient’s oral health status and health history.”
Business Insider (8/2, Brodwin) stated that the AP report “comes in sharp contrast to recommendations from basically every major dental hygiene organization, including the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Periodontology.”
Wired (8/3, Simon) noted there are challenges with conducting “a real-world, longitudinal study” that is necessary to prove the efficacy of flossing, including the costs involved and the reliance on people to floss properly. Dr. Marcelo W.B. Araujo, vice president of the ADA Science Institute, said the news coverage is likely “to trigger good conversation between the public and their dentists. And that’s what we really want.”
The Huffington Post (8/3, Williams) stated that “a lack of good research doesn’t prove something is ineffective ― just that it hasn’t been a priority for research funding.” ADA spokesperson Dr. Matthew Messina still maintains that flossing is effective. “We need to remove bacteria from the teeth, from the gums, and from in between the teeth.”
New York Magazine (8/2, Rinkunas) added, “This very intense investigation doesn’t mean flossing isn’t beneficial,” noting that a dentist for the National Institutes of Health encourages people to continue to floss, stating that “it’s low risk, low cost.”
The NPR (8/2, Bichell) “Shots” blog reported that although flossing is not included in this year’s national dietary guidelines, a spokesperson with the US Department of Health and Human Services said, “They were not implying that this is not an important oral hygiene practice…although dental floss was mentioned in past editions of the guidelines, it was most likely identified as a supporting recommendation along with brushing teeth, with the primary emphasis being on the nutrition-based recommendation to reduce added sugars.”
Fox News (8/3) spoke with ADA Member and Texas Congressman Dr. Brian Babin who noted, “As a practicing dentist for 38 years, I have literally seen with my own eyes and experienced in my own oral hygiene the benefits of flossing. It prevents interproximal tooth decay in between the teeth…every dentist believes it is beneficial to oral health and therefore overall health.”
In addition, sources are reporting on dentists within the United States and around the world calling on patients to continue flossing their teeth, including the Boston Globe (8/3, Rao, Sitrin), WHNS-TV Greenville, SC (8/3), WDBJ-TV Roanoke, VA (8/3), WSYM-TVLansing, MI (8/3), KEZI-TV Eugene, OR (8/3), WBZ-TV Boston (8/3), WTVT-TV Tampa, FL (8/2), the Telegraph (UK) (8/3, Knapton),Dental Republic (UK) (8/3), the Irish Times (8/3), and the South China Morning Post (8/3).
The ADA has released a statement on the benefits of using interdental cleaners and a Science in the News article titled, “The Medical Benefit of Daily Flossing Called Into Question,” discusses evidence about the impact of flossing on oral health.
MouthHealthy.org also provides resources for patients on flossing, including the correct flossing technique.
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