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Comment by bluGill | Hacker News Reader

Yes, but that is all anecdotes. Nobody with any intelligence seriously believes flossing is useless, but we don't have science to prove it, and until we have science there is room for doubt. If you don't know any science it is reasonable to argue that a heavy object falls faster than a light one, but once you do some science it isn't reasonable. (it is also reasonable to argue the other way, but most people would laugh at your argument until science proves them wrong at which point they should change their stance)

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Yes it was an anecdote, but perhaps I wasn't clear, my point is that almost anyone whose gums bleed can easily test the benefits of flossing.

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?

My anecdote: I floss very very rarely and still my gum never bleeds. So it might be helpful for you, but not for me (at least not for the preventing bleeding).

I don't think I follow. I believe we have the science to prove that having food stuck between your teeth is worse than not having food stuck between your teeth.

Parts of the puzzle are not the whole thing.

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)

>Nobody with any intelligence seriously believes flossing is useless

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.

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