To floss or not to floss: THAT is the question!

[Justin7]

There's a lot of internet flim-flam suggesting that flossing adds anywhere from 1-6 years to your life expectancy. I saw references to a "Harvard study", but I couldn't find any direct proof that this study ever happened - rather, it was just an imaginary cite.

Does anyone have any hard proof that flossing is really +EV?

[Deuce]

My dentist says to.

[onthewhat]

Well, flossing wouldn't decrease your life expectancy...so I'd say it is +EV to floss.

[SlickFazzer]

More research by SBR needed.

[Masu485]

#1 The pursuit of a longer life is not only selfish, as it places more strain on the environment, but is also a fruitless goal society has placed upon itself.

#2 Numerous things can extend life expectancy, which are much more potent than flossing. No use in flossing to live longer if you live in a smoggy metropolis, or in a cancerous atmosphere.

[RogueJuror]

There got to be a dentist among SBR...

[louisvillekid]

why do most people only see a doctor when it is necessary or they are pressured by family or friends? after you see a doctor he usually says something like "stay healthy and take care" or "see you later" he never gives an ultimatum of seeing him again, unless it is for a 1-2 week follow-up.

why do most people see a dentist every 6 months? He says "See you in 6 months" And you just go "ok"

me myself have always been baffled by all the countless studies for countless things you can do or eat or whatever to supposedly prolong life. you read one study and it will say this, then 6 months later there is another that contradicts the previous, then 6 months later there is another that contradicts those.

I've known people of perfect health and young age that die, just as we probably all have, but at the same time you can go into probably any bar in anytown USA and find some old coot sitting in there with leather skin and smokin on his last cig from his 2nd pack of the day and working on his 15th beer, and is going to drive home and stop and grab fast food and then pass out at home and get up and do it all over again tomorrow, and he'll live till 90.

[etothep]

we be flossin?

[Willie Bee]

Not sure about flossing adding to your life expectancy, but I know that it adds to general good health with regards to your teeth and gums. And I'd guess that people who floss regularly also tend to exercise good health practices across the board, and that's what adds to life expectancy.

[pico]

i use waterpik

[AMBlai01]

Not sure about flossing adding to your life expectancy, but I know that it adds to general good health with regards to your teeth and gums. And I'd guess that people who floss regularly also tend to exercise good health practices across the board, and that's what adds to life expectancy.

I have to agree with Willie on this one. I would suspect that there is a correlation with the people that floss regularly and their access to health care. A lot of these studies that are done do not take in other socioeconomic factors that might have a perfect correlation. Its a another way that media/doctors and others can spin studies to make the public believe anything they want.

This always relates to gambling of course because you can always find stats to support the side that you are on. This is why we should never get too obsessed with stats when capping.