Flossing vital to good health

For 36 years I have practiced in Bradenton as a periodontist treating various levels of periodontal disease. I pride myself on educating my patients on the importance of excellent daily oral hygiene as a preventive measure against this silent epidemic.

Recently, I read an article written by the Associated Press that stated there is little evidence that supports that daily flossing is important. The quote reads, “Evidence for flossing is weak, very unreliable, of low quality and carries a moderate to large potential for bias.”

This appalls me!

On the Cleveland Clinic website, periodontal disease is ranked as one of the top five causes of heart disease. On this same website, one of the top five things that can be done at home to combat heart disease is — believe it or not — flossing!

Now, because of this article, many people are doubting what we have stressed for years. If this article gains supporters, we will see an increase in cavities, premature tooth loss (requiring crown and bridges and/or implants) and increased out-of-pocket expenses to our patients.

Periodontal disease leads to increased systemic inflammation, resulting in an increased potential for many systemic disorders.I am passionate about this topic and would like to put this biased article to rest. I am happy to provide my experience on this topic to inform your readers on its importance.

This story was originally published August 22, 2016 at 5:08 PM with the headline "Flossing vital to good health."