The Tribune

By Dr Sparkman Ferguson

Registrar of the Bahamas Dental Council

Recently, a scientific study came out which suggested that groups of studies that had been conducted could not prove the benefits of daily flossing. Many persons who heard this welcomed the news with relief, simply because they had never practised flossing anyhow. The news also came as a surprise to dental professionals because we have always recommended daily flossing to our patients for better dental health.

What is the meaning

of the study?

The results of this study are simple to interpret. Firstly, there may be a need for further studies which may offer more definitive results. Secondly, the fact that the study did not prove flossing’s benefits did not mean that flossing was useless.

What should we do

about flossing now?

The obvious answer is to continue flossing. It should be noted that daily flossing is only one form of interdental cleansing. Interdental cleansing has continuously proven to be an important practice in oral health. However, interdental cleansing is not only accomplished with floss. For many, interdental cleaning is accomplished with wooden sticks, or small brushes , or water flushing (with a waterpik or similar device)

The causes of gingivitis and periodontal diseases have not changed with this study. It is still a fact that dental plaque, dental tartar, and dental calculus are still the determinants of gum disease and have to be eliminated regularly from the mouth.

How many people floss?

It is generally accepted that persons fall into three main categories when it comes to flossing. About 30 per cent of persons floss daily, another 30 per cent do random flossing, and 40 per cent do not floss at all.

Does your dentist

know if you floss ?

Yes. Your dentist knows if you floss or not? This is not a judgement issue for dentists. It is note worthy that most people believe that flossing is important. This is often proven when patients who do not floss, go to great lengths to convince their dentists that they do.

Conclusion

It is factual that gingivitis and periodontal diseases are very real. We know this because we see both diseases everyday in the practice of clinical dentistry. We also know that the causes of these gum diseases are also very real since the devastation associated with them continue to wreak havoc on the mouths of everyday people.

We cannot relax our efforts since we have come a long way in determining, treating, and eliminating gingivitis and periodontal diseases. A position taken to stop flossing, or to stop any form of interdental cleaning, can only prove detrimental to the health of any mouth.

My professional advice to persons who floss would be to continue to do so. I would also encourage those who do not, to begin flossing and adopt interdental cleansing.