Just in: Dental flossing has been making the news lately! The reports saying that \”there are no benefits to flossing,” are not backed by the American Dental Association (ADA). The latest dietary guidelines for Americans, issued by the Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services, did not mention about flossing so the Associated Press said they could not find any research which demonstrated effectiveness of flossing.
Benefits: A report gathering data from multiple studies found that regular (5 days per week) professional flossing resulted in a statistically significant reduction in decay (cavities) in between teeth. Floss is also a very low cost method to prevent fillings on adjacent teeth because decay is an infection which can spread to other teeth in contact.
Challenges: Behavioral changes are not always easy to incorporate into every day routine. Pick an activity that you enjoy doing to get into the habit! Flossing is also a technique-sensitive intervention and it takes practice to learn how to do it correctly.
Technique: Traditional dental floss is the best to wrap around the tooth- but holders, picks or sticks can also help people that have trouble with dexterity. I love Plackers flossers for little ones! Start with 18\” of floss. Wind most of it around one of your middle fingers and the rest around the same finger on your other hand. Hold floss tightly with about 1\” of floss between your hands. Glide floss between teeth with a gentle up and down motion. You’ll feel resistance when the floss reaches your gumline. Gently curve it into a C against your tooth. Hold the floss against each tooth, gently scraping the tooth’s side while moving the floss away from the gum. Repeat on all teeth.
Cavity fighting benefit: Try using some fluoride toothpaste on floss before working it through the contact to try to prevent the decay from getting worse. The fluoride will help strengthen enamel.
History: A New Orleans dentist, in 1815 began advising his patients to use a thin silk thread to clean between their teeth. The idea caught on, and in 1882 a company called the Codman and Shurtleft Company, based in Randolph, Massachusetts, began marketing an unwaxed silk dental floss.
Professional guidance: ADA recommendations is currently to floss between teeth in contact once a day to remove deposits (plaque) in between teeth. Plaque is a sticky film which contains numerous bacteria and food debris. Dental cavities are associated with this plaque and sugar content in the diet. The removal of plaque will also firm up the gums so less bacteria will be harbored in them, and less bleeding and inflammation of the gums (Gingivitis). Over time, the more inflammatory markers present will lead to breakdown of the bone (Periodontitis).
Indication: Flossing with traditional dental floss is indicated for all teeth that are touching. This includes baby teeth once they lose their spacing and adult teeth start popping up around them! People that do not floss miss cleaning 2/5, or 40% of surfaces of their teeth!
Flossing is truly an essential part of oral hygiene. Next time you go in for your cleaning, ask the hygienist to evaluate flossing technique and give you a few pointers.
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