Flossing Health Claims Not Proven (against gum disease and cavities), Says Dental Expert

A leading dentist has said there is only "weak evidence" flossing stops gum disease and cavities - despite it being recommended by most in the profession.

Professor Damien Walmsley, of Birmingham University, said the time and expense required for reliable studies meant the health claims often attributed to floss were unproven.

 
Prof Walmsley, who is also a scientific adviser to the British Dental Association (BDA), said: "The difficulty is trying to get good evidence. People are different and large studies are costly to do...until then you can't really say yes or no."

He added "more sophisticated trials" were needed.

Earlier this year, the US government dropped the flossing recommendation from its guidelines because they must be legally based on scientific evidence.

A spokeswoman for Public Health England (PHE) said it keeps "abreast of the evidence base and will consider these findings".

She added: "Some people may not have large enough spaces in between their teeth to use an inter-dental brush, so flossing can be a useful alternative.

"Patients should speak to their dentist if they have any concerns."

Prof Walmsley's views have been borne out by a large number of studies in the past decade.

One review conducted last year said: "The majority of available studies fail to demonstrate that flossing is generally effective in plaque removal."

Another review in 2015 cited "inconsistent/weak evidence" for flossing and a "lack of efficacy".

Floss can occasionally cause harm, with poor technique leading to damaged gums and teeth.

There is also a risk of dislodging bad bacteria, which can lead to infections.

The BDA said: "Small inter-dental brushes are best for cleaning the area in between the teeth, where there is space to do so.

"Floss is of little value unless the spaces between your teeth are too tight for the inter-dental brushes to fit without hurting or causing harm."

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