Canadian Dental group still recommends flossing

There may be sparse evidence in the medical literature that flossing helps prevent cavities and gum disease, but the Canadian Dental Association says that, for dentists, the proof is in a patient’s mouth.

The Associated Press looked at the most rigorous research over the past decade and found the evidence of flossing having benefit was “weak, very unreliable,” and the studies were of “very low” quality. “The majority of available studies fail to demonstrate that flossing is generally effective in plaque removal,” a 2015 review said.

But Dr. Larry Levin, presidentelect of the Canadian Dental Association, maintains that patients who follow a daily routine of flossing, brushing and using other plaque-removing devices have better overall oral health than those who don’t.

“What general dentists like myself are aware of is what they see in their patients’ mouths on a day-in, day-out basis,” Levin said Tuesday from Hamilton, where he practises.

“And that is that patients who have good oral hygiene through brushing, flossing and cleaning between their teeth, and are making efforts to reduce the amount of sugar in their diet ... they are seeing good results and are having positive oral health.

“Those who take shortcuts or perhaps don’t take the time to do those things are finding they continue to have dental problems,” he said, pointing to tooth decay and periodontal disease as the two most common repercussions of unchecked plaque buildup.

Plaque is a bacterial biofilm that occurs on the surfaces of teeth. When it reacts with sugar from the diet, an acid is formed that can eat into the teeth, causing cavities.

Levin said the goal is to dislodge and remove as much plaque as possible with daily oral care.