Is flossing really all it's cracked up to be? The Departments of Agriculture and HHS released updated dietary guidelines with a notable exclusion, according to The New York Times.
Here are five things to know:
1. The guidelines did not include any note of flossing recommendations.
2. The Associated Press reported researchers have never actually researched the effects of regular flossing.
3. The American Academy of Periodontology noted data surrounding flossing is unimpressive because studies never included enough participants to conduct thorough follow-ups.
4. Although brushing with fluoride has been proven to deter dental decay, the same data about flossing doesn't exist.
5. Slight evidence from the 2011 The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews points to flossing decreasing gingivitis.