Edmonton dentist remains flossing fan, suggests report has no teeth

Failing to floss could take a bite out of your sex life, says an Edmonton dentist who takes exception to a recent report that suggests the tooth-cleaning ritual is unnecessary.

"I think flossing can improve your sex life," periodontist Dr. Doug Pettigrew said during a Monday interview on CBC Radio's Edmonton AM. 

"If you leave food between your teeth and it's rotting away there for three or four days, it smells bad.

"Would you rather kiss someone with kissing sweet breath? Or would you rather kiss someone where you can taste that decaying food?"

No strong proof that flossing your teeth has medical benefit

There has been plenty of flap about flossing since last week, when the Associated Press published a report that examined 25 studies into the practice, and concluded the evidence for flossing is "weak" and "unreliable."

The flossing investigation was prompted by the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans, published in 2015, which no longer recommends flossing.

But Pettigrew said the report has no teeth, and only proves there is a lack of research in oral health.

"I think it's being interpreted badly," said Pettigrew. "They say there is weak evidence that flossing helps, but there is no good evidence that it doesn't help. And people are just jumping on this." 

• This dentist doesn't floss. And he says you don't need to either

Pettigrew noted that some guidelines have changed, but the Canadian Dental Association still recommends regular flossing.

"Some associations, they have to have evidence-based research to recommend things, and we don't have good research for flossing. Probably because research in flossing is not that exciting." 

"I've treated 10,000 patients over 40 years and I'm positive that flossing has been a very important part of our therapy."

A friendly flossing wager 

One of the biggest flossing naysayers has been Damien Walmsley, a dentist and scientific advisor to the British Dental Association. Walmsley has done several interviews suggesting that a good flossing is only necessary when a sizable chunk of food becomes lodged in your pearly whites.

But Pettigrew said he is willing to wager $10,000 that Walmsley is wrong.

"If he can give me an affidavit that he hasn't flossed for the last 10 years, and he comes to my office, I'll have him examined by two independent periodontists and myself," he said. "If we find any evidence of bleeding or inflammation, he owes me $10,000.

"If we don't find any evidence of inflammation, we will pay him $10,000."

More than a toothache 

Pettigrew said in addition to bad breath, failing to floss can lead to an accumulation of plaque that can cause gum disease, decay and tooth loss — problems that often require painful and expensive treatments.

"I do a lot of surgery for gum disease. Would you rather spend five minutes flossing your teeth, or would you rather come into my office and have two hours of surgery in six different areas over six visits at $2,500 a pop?

"Floss is cheap and easy.

"It's like playing golf. You use all the clubs, you don't stick to just your putter. Same thing here, you can't use one device.

"If you want the best, you do it all."