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The AP asked the government for proof that flossing works. The answer: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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Re: The AP asked the government for proof that flossing works. The answer: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

#4

Please floss. If you don’t, try it and then smell it. You’ll want to start

You’re telling people to not trust science, just trust some unscientific proxy test. That’s how you get to Feng Shui, homeopathic drugs, ear candling and bleach enemas.

If the statement were so obviously true, it wouldn’t be hard to prove through research. It isn’t so it isn’t actually obviously true.

Re: The AP asked the government for proof that flossing works. The answer: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

#5
post #4

Please floss. If you don’t, try it and then smell it. You’ll want to start

You’re telling people to not trust science, just trust some unscientific proxy test. That’s how you get to Feng Shui, homeopathic drugs, ear candling and bleach enemas. If the statement were so obviously true, it wouldn’t be hard to prove through research. It isn’t so it isn’t actually obviously true.

Not flossing is a frequent root cause of gingivitis, which can degrade to periodontitis and subsequent tooth loss due to damage to the bone that holds your teeth.

Re: The AP asked the government for proof that flossing works. The answer: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

#6
post #5
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You’re telling people to not trust science, just trust some unscientific proxy test. That’s how you get to Feng Shui, homeopathic drugs, ear candling and bleach enemas. If the statement were so obviously true, it wouldn’t be hard to prove through research. It isn’t so it isn’t actually obviously true.

Not flossing is a frequent root cause of gingivitis, which can degrade to periodontitis and subsequent tooth loss due to damage to the bone that holds your teeth.

If that is really true, it should be pretty easy to show in scientific research, right?

Re: The AP asked the government for proof that flossing works. The answer: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

#7
post #6
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not flossing is a frequent root cause of gingivitis, which can degrade to periodontitis and subsequent tooth loss due to damage to the bone that holds your teeth.

If that is really true, it should be pretty easy to show in scientific research, right?

The issue with the article here is that AP asked the government about research concerning this issue instead of, you know, a dental institute.

Which is akin to asking McDonalds about research on asphalt.

Re: The AP asked the government for proof that flossing works. The answer: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

#8
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If that is really true, it should be pretty easy to show in scientific research, right?

The issue with the article here is that AP asked the government about research concerning this issue instead of, you know, a dental institute. Which is akin to asking McDonalds about research on asphalt.

You may have skipped reading the linked AP article as the url has changed, the new one is:

https://apnews.com/article/f7e66079d9ba4b4985d7af350619a9e3

Most of the research is sponsored by the manufacturers so if anything you’d expect it to be slanted towards showing positive results. But instead

‘The evidence for flossing is “weak, very unreliable,” of “very low” quality, and carries “a moderate to large potential for bias.”’

Re: The AP asked the government for proof that flossing works. The answer: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

#9
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The issue with the article here is that AP asked the government about research concerning this issue instead of, you know, a dental institute. Which is akin to asking McDonalds about research on asphalt.

You may have skipped reading the linked AP article as the url has changed, the new one is: https://apnews.com/article/f7e66079d9ba4b4985d7af350619a9e3 Most of the research is sponsored by the manufacturers so if anything you’d expect it to be slanted towards showing positive results. But instead ‘The evidence for flossing is “weak, very unreliable,” of “very low” quality, and carries “a moderate to large potential fo…

The article does read like it's pointing out the lack of randomized controlled trials for parachutes:

https://www.bmj.com/content/363/bmj.k5094

People don't pay for studies of something they think is obvious. That's why you get only poor-quality studies. Dentists can tell who's flossing and who's not just by looking, and they know that their healthier patients floss.

It's not impossible that they're being misled, but it seems more that it's just old but correct observational wisdom that predates modern methodology practice. And if it's wrong it would take a fair bit of effort to disprove it -- so nobody bothers.

Re: The AP asked the government for proof that flossing works. The answer: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

#10
post #9
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You may have skipped reading the linked AP article as the url has changed, the new one is: https://apnews.com/article/f7e66079d9ba4b4985d7af350619a9e3 Most of the research is sponsored by the manufacturers so if anything you’d expect it to be slanted towards showing positive results. But instead ‘The evidence for flossing is “weak, very unreliable,” of “very low” quality, and carries “a moderate to large potential fo…

The article does read like it's pointing out the lack of randomized controlled trials for parachutes: https://www.bmj.com/content/363/bmj.k5094 People don't pay for studies of something they think is obvious. That's why you get only poor-quality studies. Dentists can tell who's flossing and who's not just by looking, and they know that their healthier patients floss. It's not impossible that they're being misled, but…

> People don't pay for studies of something they think is obvious.

Then why do they pay for a study of the effect of flossing? And why is the result that it really doesn’t help a lot?

> Dentists can tell who's flossing and who's not just by looking, and they know that their healthier patients floss.

But can they? Or do they see someone with healthy teeth and say it’s someone who flosses correctly?

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