Recent research has looked into how flossing technique impacts the effectiveness of flossing. Flossing is a key part of oral health and is an excellent tool to protect your teeth and gums. However, flossing is something that many people ignore. For those that do floss, the research has shown that using the correct technique can boost their oral health.
The importance of flossing cannot be understated. It is crucial for removing debris that a toothbrush can’t reach, and helps protect against cavities and bad breath.
However, while most people brush their teeth regularly, flossing is something that many people forget to do. Furthermore, for those that do floss, many do not know how to do so effectively.
Recent research has looked into what impact proper flossing technique has [1]. The results show that flossing is very important and has a positive impact. This impact is more pronounced when proper flossing technique is used.
Background
Flossing can help remove debris from food and anything else in the mouth. Furthermore, it stops dental plaque from forming, aiding cavity prevention. It also helps gum health.
The United Kingdom’s NHS recommends that people floss from the age of 12 [2]. But while dentists always praise flossing, there has been some debate on its effectiveness.
2016 Associated Press article
One of the key factors in this research was a somewhat controversial article from the Associated Press in 2016 [1]. The article, which used findings from numerous studies, stated that there was “little proof that flossing works” in the long-term [3].
At the time, it caused some debate on if flossing was actually effective. Dentists pointed out that gum disease can take many years to develop – making long-term studies unrealistic [1].
The Research
The research was carried out by a team from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. Their findings have been published in the Journal of Dental Hygiene [1].
As mentioned, the research team wanted to provide evidence that dental flossing is an effective activity, which could dispute the findings of the Associated Press [1].
One of the first things they realised was that many people weren’t flossing accurately. Therefore, this limited the effectiveness of flossing.
They recruited 36 study participants. These participants all had a diagnosis of Gingivitis – the earliest stage of gum disease [1]. Gingivitis is a very common condition. With bleeding gums being a common symptom of gingivitis, the researchers decided this would be the key area that they would look out for.
Then, the participants were split into two groups. One group were trained to floss using a technique called “adapted horizontal vertical flossing”. Meanwhile, the other group were left to continue their usual flossing style [1].
The participants were asked to floss every night for an eight week period. After eight weeks, the researchers looked to see how common bleeding gums were among both groups.
Incredibly, those that had used the adapted horizontal vertical flossing technique had seen a 70% reduction in bleeding gums [1].
Also, those that flossed using their own technique saw a 30% reduction in bleeding gums [1]. This shows that even when the optimal technique isn’t used, any form of flossing can still have a positive impact.
Overall, the researchers concluded that people that learned and consistently used proper flossing technique showed fewer signs of gum disease and other oral health problems. However, the study also found any form of flossing can be effective.
What is proper flossing technique?
The study recommended that the below technique should be used [1]:
• Wrap each end of a 15–18-inch length of floss around the ring or middle finger of both hands.
• This should leave around 5-6-inches of floss to use. Hold this floss with the index finger or thumb of each hand. Use around three quarters of floss between the fingers of each hand.
• Start at one end of either the top or bottom set of teeth and apply the floss to the curved surface of the tooth – essentially bending a “c” shape around the tooth.
• Carefully move the floss in a forward-backward motion and upwards and downwards – this should remove any debris
• Continue this process for each tooth [1]
By following the above technique, it should result in effective flossing. This can boost your oral health and protect your gums.
The authors were pleased with the outcome of the research. Paul Levi of Tufts University, said that this was the first study “to prove that a person using floss with a specific technique will have less gum infection than a person who just does what they normally do” [4].
Making flossing a regular part of your oral hygiene routine is crucial! Furthermore, as this study shows, using an effective method is equally important!
Thinking points…
[1] Flossing can protect against cavities and gum disease. Another important part of preventing oral health is to attend regular dental check-ups. A check-up provides a dentist with an opportunity to take a look at your oral health in detail, and identify any problems. It is important to frequently attend check-ups. We recommend booking an appointment now!
[2] Many people do not floss. This might be due to not feeling it is worthwhile, being lazy, or just forgetting. But as this research has shown, it can have very strong results for our oral health. Therefore, try and find a way of incorporating flossing into your bedtime routine – and ensure you do it either just before or straight after brushing your teeth. We recommend figuring out a routine now!
What we offer at Savanna Dental
Savanna Dental is a Calgary dental clinic that provide its patients with a wide range of dental treatment options and advice aimed at improving their oral health.
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary dental clinic at least twice per year for a regular dental check-up. At these check-ups, we provide a comprehensive review of a patient’s oral health. If any problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For example, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To strengthen your oral health, we recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing regularly.
Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, teeth whitening and Invisalign™! Many people find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
Moreover, all of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide. This ensures transparent and fair pricing.
We hope to see you soon at our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca.
References
[1] Basali, D. H., Hong, I., Finkelman, M., Dragan, I. F., Gyurko, R., Uzel, N. G., & Levi, P. A. (2023). The Effect of Dental Flossing Instructions and Technique on Interproximal Bleeding: A randomized control trial. Journal of Dental Hygiene. 97 (4): p36-45.
[2] NHS. (2019). Why should I use dental floss?. Available: https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/dental-health/why-should-i-use-dental-floss/. Last accessed: 23rd September 2023.
[3] Associated Press. (2016). Untitled. Available: https://apnews.com/article/f7e66079d9ba4b4985d7af350619a9e3. Last accessed: 23rd September 2023.
[4] Ragovin, H. (2023). You could be flossing all wrong, if you’re even flossing at all. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-09-flossing-wrong-youre.html. Last accessed: 23rd September 2023.
