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. 2017 Sep;44(9):866-871.
doi: 10.1111/jcpe.12765. Epub 2017 Aug 7.

Association of flossing/inter-dental cleaning and periodontitis in adults

M Soledad Cepeda  1 , Rachel Weinstein  1 , Clair Blacketer  1 , Michael C Lynch  2
Affiliations

Association of flossing/inter-dental cleaning and periodontitis in adults

M Soledad Cepeda et al. J Clin Periodontol. 2017 Sep.

Abstract

Aim: Assess the association of flossing with periodontitis.

Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) years 2011-2014. We used three categories of flossing: 0-1, 2-4 and ≥5 days in the past week and the CDC definition of periodontitis. We calculated odds ratios controlling for age, gender, smoking, drinking, income and dentist visits.

Results: A total of 6939 adult subjects were included, 35% flossed ≤1 time a week, and 40% had periodontitis. After adjustment, the odds of periodontitis were 17% lower for subjects who flossed >1 time a week than for subjects who flossed less often (odds ratio=0.83, 95% CI 0.72-0.97). A dose response was not observed. Men were twice as likely as women to have periodontitis. Younger subjects, non-smokers and subjects with the highest incomes had lower odds of having periodontitis.

Conclusions: Flossing was associated with a modestly lower prevalence of periodontitis. Older age, being male, smoking, low income and less frequent dental visits were associated with a higher prevalence of periodontitis. Flossing 2-4 days a week could be as beneficial as flossing more frequently. This is a cross-sectional study so a causal relation between flossing and periodontitis cannot be established.

Keywords: cross-sectional study; flossing; inter-dental cleaning; national health and nutrition examination survey; periodontitis.

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