Are the benefits of flossing one's teeth proven?

My dentist is angry with me if I don't floss. However, I don't feel to sure about it. I feel like my gum might be receeding from flossing. Also a colleague told me that one might permanently damage the gum by scarring it. Another colleague claims he lost a teeth due to flossing, because he pushed some food under the gum.





It just seems slightly weird. The dental industry has a lot of money and good experience with marketing. Perhaps they just want to sell floss?





Are there longterm studies proving the benefits of flossing?

Are the benefits of flossing one's teeth proven?
I'm a dentist.





Let me put it to you this way: we haven't "proven" that such a thing as electrons exist and orbit the nucleus of atoms. We have plenty of evidence that leads us to such a conclusion, and that's good enough for modern science.





It has been PROVEN that not floosing puts you at greater risk of tooth decay on the "inbetween" areas of your teeth. I see these areas of decay on x-rays on a daily basis. And your gums recede when you DON'T floss. Of course, you don't want to injure your gums with the floss, just like you don't want to scrub your skin raw in the shower.





Besides, I get no money from Glide or Oral-B or any floss manufacturer. If anything, in my practice, we give this stuff out to patients.





Have a little more trust in your dentist.
Reply:I was told the same thing i would use a pick just like they use in the office.Pulls food up.
Reply:I found an article about a real experiment that was conducted to see if floss is better than just brushing. Here it is:


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query...
Reply:Did your collegues attend dental school? If not, you probably shouldn't listen to them too much about medical issues. It just seems like telling someone to lay out in the sun as much as possible because they knew someone who got rickets by never going out in the sun. Flossing reduces plaque and tartar build up, which in the long run can save your teeth and even help to lower the risk of heart attack. If your gums are receeding from flossing - don't push so hard when you floss.
Reply:You have to floss because if you don't, you are going to get gingavitis. You just need to learn the right way how to floss, ask your dentist.
Reply:i went to the dentist 2 days ago actually and they did the xray where you put ur head in it and when he looked at my xray, he asked if i flossed. i told him no not really and he said that he didnt think so. he showed me the xray of my gums and they were like receding. i asked him why and he said that its not plaque but when you dont floss, you get a hard buildup in between your teeth and as you eat, it pushes the buildup in your gums. when it gets in your gums, its like an acid and it eats away at your jaw. he told me that i especially need to floss before i go to bed at least. so yeah, i think that you are benefitted by flossing
Reply:Takes out plaque and food, prevents cavities.
Reply:Look up "Interproximal Decay" and this will help you make up your mind.



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