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From the PubMed link you provided.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS:

There is some evidence from twelve studies that flossing in addition to toothbrushing reduces gingivitis compared to toothbrushing alone. There is weak, very unreliable evidence from 10 studies that flossing plus toothbrushing may be associated with a small reduction in plaque at 1 and 3 months. No studies reported the effectiveness of flossing plus toothbrushing for preventing dental caries."

That doesn't really support your case.



That's true, but this study shows some benefits of floss even it's weak. "Flossing plus toothbrushing showed a statistically significant benefit compared to toothbrushing in reducing gingivitis at the three time points studied, the SMD being -0.36 (95% CI -0.66 to -0.05) at 1 month, SMD -0.41 (95% CI -0.68 to -0.14) at 3 months and SMD -0.72 (95% CI -1.09 to -0.35) at 6 months."

I just selected random study from the search results, didn't read it entirely. But there are hundreds of studies about benefits of floss.


I wasn't questioning the usefulness of flossing. I want it to be useful. I'd hate to think of all that wasted time over my adult life!


You should question it. If it isn't useful and you found out now, think of all the wasted time in the future that you would be saving!

I'm not saying it's useless - but the mentality of "oh, I've been wrong for so long that I'd rather not find out now" is IMHO a horrible philosophy.

For me - give me the hard facts, however inconvenient they are.


That's compared to toothbrushing only. What about mouthwash or xyilitol (the subjects of this article)?




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