Get your floss on!

CHICAGO – Sitting in the dentist’s chair is usually not where we like to find ourselves - with drills and brushes whirring, all kinds of scraping – ugh! And dentists aren’t all that thrilled when we show up not having taken very good care of our teeth or gums since the last time we saw them six months before (or 12… or longer). One of the main culprits? Flossing. Dentists all over the world constantly tell their patients to floss more. And patients often nod and think to themselves, “yes, next time I will. I promise.” Just like cleaning out the garage or losing those pesky 10 pounds that have crept up on us. And then we don’t. But why? We know that not flossing regularly can lead to tooth decay and to periodontal disease. We still need more. According to a recent study published in the Journal of Periodontology, when done as part of one's routine oral care, flossing can actually help reduce the amount of gum disease-causing bacteria found in the mouth, therefore contributing to healthy teeth and gums. The study, conducted at New York University, examined 51 sets of twins between the ages of 12 and 21. Each set was randomly assigned a 2-week treatment regiment with one twin brushing with a manual toothbrush and toothpaste and the other twin brushing with a manual toothbrush and toothpaste in addition to flossing. At the end of the trial, samples were taken from both pairs of twins and compared for levels of bacteria commonly associated with periodontal disease. The study findings indicated that those twins who did not floss had significantly more of the bacteria associated with periodontal disease when compared to the matching twin who flossed in addition to tooth-brushing with toothpaste. "This study illustrates the impact flossing can have on oral health… [it] demonstrates that flossing can have an important and favorable impact on an individual, as compared to that of a non-flossing individual with similar genetics and possibly similar habits," explains Dr. Kenneth Kornman, editor or the Journal of Periodontology. "Twins tend to share the same or similar environmental factors such as dietary habits, health and life practices, as well as genetics. In this case, the only difference was flossing, and the outcome was significant. Flossing may significantly reduce the amount of bad bacteria in the mouth." " I am constantly telling my patients to clean between their teeth more using dental floss or interdental cleaners," says Dr. Susan Karabin, President of the AAP. "Patients tend to think that flossing can't possibly make that much of a difference. But this study demonstrates that the addition of flossing to your dental hygiene routine can significantly reduce the amount of periodontal disease causing bacteria. Even after just two weeks!" Still need more motivation? How about keeping your teeth? The study results support the theory that including flossing as an integral part of your regular oral care can help reduce the amount of periodontal disease-causing bacteria in the mouth, which is a main culprit for loss of teeth. Now there’s something to chew on. SOURCE American Academy of Periodontolgy