Speaking of the floss, here’s another take on the popular dental tool. It’s been conventional wisdom that the floss reaches the spaces between teeth that the toothbrush is unable to, well, brush. And that’s good because unreachable plaque is flossed and prevented from building up on the enamel and causing cavities.

Floss can prevent both cavities and gum disease, says American Dental Association (ADA) Science Institute vice president Dr. Marcelo Araujo.

The ADA suggests the right way to do it: place the floss gently between teeth so that the floss forms into a C-shape around them. Floss up and down to rid the enamel of the food that has built up.

Do not, repeat do not, touch the gums with the floss. It might cause irritation or damage the sensitive gums.

Time Health, the online newsletter of Time magazine, reports however that a 2008 review of the existing research on flossing found the standard advice to floss in order to prevent cavities and gum disease “is not supported by scientific evidence.”

The review was made by Dr. G.A. van der Weijden, a Professor of Periodontics at the University of Amsterdam, and co-researchers.

It says that another review from 2011 concluded that flossing may modestly reduce your risk for inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) but doesn’t fight plaque. That same review found flossing too hard may even damage the gums.

“The benefit from flossing is minimal and research shows it does not have a major impact on tooth cleaning,” Dr. Damien Walmsley, a Professor of Dentistry at the University of Birmingham (United Kingdom) and a scientific advisor to the British Dental Association, tells Markham Heid of Time Health.

Brushing properly is adequate enough, he says, adding that flossing then becomes a “non-essential extra.”

Even Dr. Araujo agrees that proper brushing is most effective against tooth decay.

“Don’t feel guilty about not flossing,” says Dr. Weijden, co-author of the 2008 review. “I don’t floss, and I have healthy teeth and gums.”/WDJ