Our Location:
Five blocks South of the
Lynnhaven Mall
Behind the Chick-Fil-A
Find answers and other helpful dental topics in our digital library.
Our Blog:
Archive:
- 2021
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
- 2010
Tags
- celebrity smiles (86)
- oral health (23)
- tooth colored fillings (1)
- dental fillings (1)
- sleep apnea (3)
- cosmetic dentistry (10)
- smile makeover (2)
- orthodontic treatment (19)
- braces (10)
- orthodontics (6)
- tads (1)
- Veneers (2)
- dental implants (16)
- periodontal plastic surgery (1)
- Teeth (1)
- Virginia Beach (2)
- thumb sucking (2)
- pediatric dentistry (14)
- Partial Dentures (1)
- Tooth Replacement (3)
- Missing Teeth (3)
- diabetes (3)
- sealants (2)
- nutrition (3)
- wisdom teeth (4)
- bone grafting (3)
- oral hygiene (31)
- root canal (3)
- osteoporosis (1)
- dental hygiene (1)
- dental emergency (2)
- dental injury (8)
- teeth whitening (8)
- gum surgery (1)
- mouthguards (6)
- tooth pain (4)
- root canal treatment (8)
- oral cancer (1)
- dental injuries (2)
- tooth decay (9)
- baby teeth (2)
- dental implant (5)
- crowns (6)
- gummy smile (2)
- bridge (1)
- partial denture (2)
- cleft lip (1)
- cleft palate (1)
- oral surgery (1)
- bonding (1)
- crown lengthening (2)
- chipped teeth (1)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- cancer (1)
- loose teeth (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- dentures (2)
- antibiotics (1)
- porcelain veneers (4)
- pediatric care (1)
- cold sore (1)
- tmj disorders (4)
- gum disease (8)
- mouthguard (1)
- anesthesia (1)
- retainers (1)
- dental care (1)
- teeth grinding (3)
- root resorption (1)
- bad breath (3)
- fluoride (2)
- sugar (1)
- chipped tooth (4)
- sensitive teeth (1)
- tooth grinding (1)
- fillings (1)
- athletic mouthguards (2)
- air abrasion (1)
- periodontal disease (2)
- toothache (1)
- x-ray (1)
- snoring (2)
- bruxism (1)
- laser dentistry (1)
- GERD (1)
- periodontal (gum) disease (1)
- flossing (1)
- extraction (2)
- gum recession (3)
- dry mouth (1)
- teething (1)
- loose tooth (1)
- retainer (2)
- lingual braces (1)
- jaw pain (1)
- orthognathic surgery (1)
- jaw surgery (1)
- pregnancy (1)

A couple of years ago the Associated Press published an article claiming the health benefits of flossing remained unproven. The article cited a number of studies that seemed to conclude the evidence for the effectiveness of flossing in helping to prevent dental disease as “weak.”
As you can imagine, dental providers were a bit chagrined while flossers everywhere threw away their dental floss and happily declared their independence from their least favorite hygiene task. It would have seemed the Age of Flossing had gone the way of the dinosaurs.
But, the demise of flossing may have been greatly exaggerated. A new study from the University of North Carolina seems to contradict the findings cited in the AP article. This more recent study looked at dental patients in two groups—those who flossed and those who didn’t—during two periods of five and ten years respectively. The new study found conclusively that the flosser group on average had a lower risk of tooth loss than the non-flossers.
While this is an important finding, it may not completely put the issue to rest. But assuming it does, let’s get to the real issue with flossing: a lot of people don’t like it, for various reasons. It can be time-consuming; it can be messy; and, depending on a person’s physical dexterity, difficult to perform.
On the latter, there are some things you can do to make it a less difficult task. You can use a floss threader, a device that makes it easier to thread the floss through the teeth. You can also switch to an oral irrigator or “water flosser,” a pump device that sprays a fine, pressurized stream of water to break up plaque between teeth and flush most of it away. We can also give you tips and training for flossing with just your fingers and thread.
But whatever you do, don’t give up the habit. It may not be your most favorite hygiene task but most dentists agree it can help keep your teeth healthy for the long-term.
If you would like more information on the benefits of flossing, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation.