Dental Health Check with Dr. Linda Niessen
Dental health topics from Dr. Linda Niessen of Baylor College of Dentistry
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 Listerine vs. Floss

By Dr. Linda Niessen
Monday, September 13, 2004

Listerine vs. Floss
Script #572  SHOOT:  8/10/04
AIRDATE:  Monday, Sept. 13, 2004
Daybreak and Midday DHC Master #19

You might think the subject of oral hygiene would NOT stir up controversy, even heated debate. But it has.  Scientists, dentists, and dental hygienists are debating the merits of using Listerine mouthwash instead of flossing. Dr. Linda Niessen looks into this new “oral argument” in today’s segment of Dental Health Check.

Flossing removes harmful plaque between teeth. Rinsing with Listerine, according to its maker, Pfizer, does the same thing. That claim currently fuels a fierce debate among dentists and hygienists.
      
A study recently published in the Journal of the American Dental Association showed that rinsing twice daily with         Listerine was as effective at reducing plaque and gingivitis in areas between the teeth as flossing once a day.

"The optimal use of Listerine is to rinse twice a day for a 30 second duration each time that you rinse," said Dr. Dennis Abbott.

So what ingredients does Listerine contain that makes could make it effective? Dr. Abbott continued, "Methyl salicylate, thymol, eucalyptol, and menthol."

Walter Thomas flosses regularly to keep his dental hygienist, as he says, off his back. "If you’re not going to floss, Listerine alone probably would help it sounds like." But Walter is part of a minority. One study showed that 90% of dentists reported that most of their patients do not floss at all.

"Most people claim to floss especially while they are in the chair," said Dental Hygienist Renita Sansom, "but I would say not a very big percentage of people are everyday faithful flossers."

So best advice? If you are a daily flosser, please…don’t stop. "I think I will probably continue to floss," said Walter Thomas.

Most people don’t floss every day and you’re not fooling your dental hygienist. So if you are a flossing flunkout, after you brush, consider rinsing twice a day with Listerine. For Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A & M System, I’m Dr. Linda Niessen, Channel 8 News.

Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and  the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.

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