But then again brushing with fluoridated toothpaste is one of the few dental interventions with good evidence supporting it's effectiveness (unlike flossing for instance).
When I don't floss, after 3 or 4 months, my gums start to puff up and bleed when brushed. When I do floss at least once a week, they don't.
It was especially obvious when I smoked, a few months after visiting the dentist/hygienist I would get bleeding from my gums, at times quite worrying amounts and one of the many reasons I gave up. However, after a few nights of flossing, it would always reduce significantly.
A much better analogy would be that people are starting to claim that farts might not smell as there's no scientific studies that conclusively say so.
As dentists point out rather regularly since that meta-study came out, they can clearly tell who flosses and who doesn't. Puffy, bleeding gums? You don't floss.
You didn't have to labour the point about science quite so rudely, I am fully aware of the philosophy of science, thanks.
Perhaps puffy, bleeding gums are perfectly healthy, but that seems unlikely as they hurt and are unsightly. On the upside, we know an easy fix for them, flossing. Do you honestly think that everyone here, or in any dentist's surgery, is going to laugh at me for claiming that?
We have science that aluminium in the brain correlated to alzheimers, and aluminium cookware causes high level of aluminium in the brain - but further science can't find a connection with alzheimers and cookware. (Note, the above is the state of science as of 20 years ago, things may have changed)
Incorrect, I've seen articles lately saying that flossing is useless because "there's no evidence that it's helpful". Seriously. I've even read that some dentists don't recommend it now.
It's pretty mind-boggling to me, but I have no reason to doubt mainstream journalism that makes these claims. Personally, I use an electric toothbrush, but that simply cannot get all the bits of food out from between my teeth, the way flossing does. How anyone can think leaving bits of food between your teeth all night is a good idea, I have no idea.
When done properly flossing is a very low risk intervention, is cheap, has a plausible mechanism of action, has anecdotal evidence for effectiveness, and makes you feel nice and clean afterwards. So you probably should still floss, even if there is no high quality evidence of effectiveness.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/tossing-flossing-2016081...
That's effectively the very beginning of "gum disease"; your brushing of your teeth probably keeps it in check otherwise, but if you didn't brush or floss - imagine where that could lead to.
Smoking only makes the problems worse (IIRC, it makes the gums more sensitive to abrasion and tooth decay products).
It's ultimately best to brush and floss regularly, particularly before going to bed, or directly after eating. I'd say if you had to do one or the other, before bed and in the morning regularly would be best.
Something to keep in mind also is how you floss - you want the floss to go between your teeth, but don't let it "saw" into (and injure) your gums - think of it more like a toothpick.
On top of all this, go see your dentist regularly if you can afford it. Every 6 months is fine. You can get x-rays and other diagnostics (there's one for oral cancer, among other things - talk to your dentist) that can help with your overall health. I honestly believe (anecdote) that going to your dentist regularly can be more beneficial for your overall health than going to the doctor.
Though, on that last bit, I honestly don't understand why here in America they leave it up to the patient to schedule regular doctor visits. I even asked my doctor's office staff if they could re-schedule me 6 months or a year later, and they wouldn't do it ahead of time, just "call us in a year" - which of course I never did. I suck at such follow-ups, but I've gone regularly to the dentist every 6 months for the past 25+ years - because they always schedule the next 6-month follow-up for me before I leave the office.
I don't understand why it's not done as a matter of course by regular family practice doctors (though they seem to do this - I think - for children; but at some point you "age out" - or more often, leave home out from under your parent's care).