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Comment by boogies | Hacker News Reader

There’s no strong scientific evidence in favor of flossing.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12216127 6 years ago Federal health expert drop flossing from health guideline

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27524152 8 months ago The AP asked the government for proof that flossing works. The answer: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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I don't buy that for a second. Every dentist I've ever seen not only tells me to do so, but can tell immediately just by looking whether I'm lying or not. I wasn't a great flosser in my teens, and do so religiously now, so have experienced both sides.

Secondly, have you ever -smelled- the result of flossing after even missing one day?

Anecdotes aside, I just Googled to have a reference, and it seems scientific enough and in favor of flossing -

https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2016/11/dont-toss-floss#:~:text....

"An analysis of 12 well-controlled studies found that flossing plus toothbrushing reduced mild gum disease, or gingivitis, significantly better than toothbrushing alone."

I don’t believe it either. I had gingivitis before flossing, now never. I also had cavities appearing between my teeth, but not anymore.

I read these articles too a few years ago, and I wondered if most of the people were just bad at flossing or something. But yea it just doesn’t quite align with my personal experience, or the experience of my dentist. I know firsthand that scientists can and do often get it wrong. I think this may be one example of that.

I know when I don't floss my mouth tastes and smells terrible and that I quickly develop tartar, I don't need a peer reviewed study to know that what I'm tasting is bacteria multiplying in my mouth.

I think the term for your way of thinking is scientism? If you can't even make conclusions for yourself based on simple experimentation or observation and need to rely on studies for everything you are going to live a terrible life.

Science is however great for combatting truthiness. Some things feel so true that the only way to change is to prove it with science.

Oh, and the OP doesn't even have research that flossing doesn't work. He just has people dropping the flossing recommendation because of lack of research. OP probably uses this stupidity to justify being completely unhygienic.

My dad's dentist had a picture on the wall that said "You only have to floss between the teeth you want to keep".

When I floss after not doing so for a long time I get a whiff and taste of decaying matter. It is disgusting. Good enough evidence for me, though I still don't floss often :(

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