The American Dental Association has long recommended that flossing be a part of a person’s daily oral hygiene routine.

However, after an article by the Associated Press revealed that the federal government has never done a study to research the effectiveness of flossing, many people began questioning whether or not flossing really works.

DentistNearMeReviews reached out to a number of dentists and periodontists in order to get their take on the matter. Here’s what they had to say:

“For the past 30 years I have seen teeth and gums that have been flossed daily and teeth and gums that aren’t flossed. HUGE DIFFERENCE! Floss removes plaque that a toothbrush cannot reach, plain and simple. Take this little test if you don’t believe me: brush your teeth. Then floss and smell the floss. I’ll bet you a million dollars you start flossing daily!”

-Jerome L. Faist, DDS | Dentist in Beachwood, OH

“Flossing effectively removes bacteria, fermenting carbohydrates and stain particles that cause inflammation and bleeding gums. Flossing stimulates blood supply that aids in healing damaged periodontium. Flossing could extend your lifespan by 7 years. People who floss have other healthful habits.”

-Robert A. Morabito, DDS  | Dentist in Falls Church, VA

“Flossing has been shown to be very effective at reducing plaque between teeth. This helps to reduce the risk of cavities as well as periodontal disease. The latter is especially important given the negative effect of periodontal disease on your overall health. In fact the American Medical Association and a myriad of medical journals report patients who have healthy mouths live at least seven years longer. So if you want to keep your smile and be able to chew, and be healthy then you only need to floss the teeth (and body) you want to”

-Mitchel S. Godat, DDS | Periodontist in Memphis, TN

“Despite the lack of supporting research we recommend daily flossing to all our patients. We have seen dramatic improvements to our patients oral health when flossing becomes a part of their daily routine.”

-Eric D. Levine, DDS | Dentist in Olney, MD

“If you’re going to floss vs. brush, floss to minimize periodontal disease. If you want to avoid decay and keep your teeth for life, do both. It’s only two minutes, thirty seconds, twice a day. Five minutes a day to see our fabulous hygienist and stay away from me.”

-Timothy P. Sulken, DDS | Dentist in Fostoria, OH.

Even if there hasn’t been a study conducted by the government, all of the dentists we spoke to are adamant about their patients flossing regularly. In their education and experience, they’ve found flossing to be an essential part of maintaining proper oral health.

We’d like to thank our dentists for providing their helpful feedback.

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