Flossing encouraged

As a periodontist in Cape Girardeau, I need to say this to those who rejoiced at the recent Associated Press report that found little scientific evidence backing the effectiveness of flossing: You should definitely continue to floss.

It's the plaque and debris that gather in the hard-to-reach spaces between teeth and along the gum line that can be rather insidious if a person is not flossing regularly. As it advances, periodontal disease can erode the bone and gum tissue supporting the teeth, leading to tooth loss. With a large body of research linking it with such systemic conditions as diabetes and heart disease, periodontal disease can also go beyond the mouth and affect a person's overall well-being.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every two American adults over the age of thirty has some form periodontal disease. However, by continuing to floss as a low-cost and low-risk part of a regular oral hygiene routine (which should also include brushing twice a day and receiving a comprehensive periodontal evaluation every year), a person is doing his or her part to contribute to a life of healthy gums.

Here's what we need to understand about the Associated Press report: a lack of high-quality evidence is not proof of ineffectiveness.

Until more research is conducted, my fellow periodontists and I encourage all Americans to Floss On!

Dr. L. Taylor Bahn, MS, DDS, Cape Girardeau

Member of the American Board of Periodontology