To floss or not to floss?

An investigation by the Associated Press (AP) has suggested that there is no definitive evidence that using dental floss prevents dental caries or gum disease.

The AP state that “evidence for flossing is "weak, very unreliable," of "very low" quality, and carries "a moderate to large potential for bias”.

The BSDHT are advising their members and patients that regular interdental cleaning remains a valuable part of their oral health routine.

Michaela ONeill, president of the BSDHT, said: “Although there has been no conclusive proof to show that flossing is beneficial to oral health, there is evidence which shows that regular interdental cleaning, with interdental brushes plays an important role in our oral health routine.

“Tooth brushing alone only cleans three of the five surfaces of our teeth, so cleaning between our teeth is a critical part of good oral hygiene as it helps to prevent gum disease by removing plaque from any areas missed by brushing alone.