The use of dental floss to preserve gum health

Authors

Keywords:

hilo dental, salud gingival, higiene bucal, gingivitis, prevención de enfermedades periodontales

Abstract

Dental floss is an essential tool in daily oral hygiene, particularly in the prevention of gingival and periodontal diseases. Proper use helps remove bacterial plaque and food particles that cannot be reached by a toothbrush, thus reducing the risk of gum inflammation and bleeding. The objective of this research is to highlight the importance of flossing in preventing periodontal disease and to promote its correct use in oral hygiene. A literature review was conducted, examining the scientific evidence available in PubMed/MEDLINE and SciELO from several high-impact articles published in the last five years. This article reviews the benefits of flossing for gum health, while highlighting its effectiveness in preventing gingivitis and other periodontal disorders. Recommendations for its correct use are also addressed, including techniques and frequency, as well as its integration into a comprehensive oral care routine. The study supports the use of flossing, complemented by proper brushing, as essential for maintaining optimal oral health.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Schüz B, Wiedemann AU, Mallach N, Scholz U. Effects of a short behavioural intervention for dental flossing: randomized‐controlled trial on planning when, where and how. J Clin Periodontol. 2009 [citado 06/05/2023];36(6):498-505. Disponible en: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-051X.2009.01406.x

Marchesan JT, Byrd KM, Moss K, Preisser JS, Morelli T, Zandona AF, et al. Flossing Is Associated with Improved Oral Health in Older Adults. J Dent Res. 2020[citado 09/05/2023];99(9):1047-1053. Disponible en: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7375740/

Azcarate Velazquez F, Garrido Serrano R, Castillo Dali G, Serrera Figallo MA, Gañan Calvo A, Torres Lagares D. Effectiveness of flossing loops in the control of the gingival health. J Clin Exp Dent. 2017 [citado 09/06/2023];9(6):756-761. Disponible en: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5474330/

Benedek CB, Lazăr L, Buka IZ, Vlasa A. Comparison of Dental Flossing and Oral Health Status among Dental Students and High School Students. J Interdiscip Med. 2018 [citado 06/07/2022];3(1):30-33. Disponible en: https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/jim-2018-0010

James P, Worthington HV, Parnell C, Harding M, Lamont T, Cheung A, et al. Chlorhexidine mouthrinse as an adjunctive treatment for gingival health. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 [citado 05/08/2022];31;3(3):CD008676. Disponible en: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6464488/

Verhoeven D, Verhoeven D. Efficacy of dental flossing and frequency of oral gingivitis in children and adults. MedRxiv. 2024 [citado 05/10/2024]. Disponible en: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.30.24312657v1

Azcárate Velázquez F, Garrido Serrano R, Castillo Dalí G, Serrera Figallo MA, Gañán Calvo A, Torres Lagares D. Eficacia de las asas de hilo dental en el control de la salud gingival. J Clin Exp Dent. 2017 [citado 05/08/2022];9(6):756-761. Disponible en: https://pmc-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.translate.goog/articles/PMC5474330/?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=es&_x_tr_hl=es&_x_tr_pto=tc

Tadin A, Badrov M. Oral Health Knowledge, Self-Assessed Oral Health Behavior, and Oral Hygiene Practices among the Adult General Population in Croatia. Healthcare (Basel). 2023 [citado 02/01/2024]30;12(1):88. Disponible en: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10778950/

Hardy J. Oral health: Flossing has to be taught well. Br Dent J. 2016 [citado 05/08/2023];221(7):371–371. Disponible en: https://www.nature.com/articles/sj.bdj.2016.710

Sutrisman H, Conelly C, Simanjuntak R, Prihartanto A. The Effect of Flossing Techniques on Gum Health and Caries Prevention. IJPH. 2024 [citado 06/12/2024];1(3):126-37. Disponible en: https://international.arikesi.or.id/index.php/IJoPH/article/view/85

Published

2025-11-07

How to Cite

1.
Pérez Villalba LD, Manzano Pérez DA, Cáceres Andrade D, Guamán Guaranga CP. The use of dental floss to preserve gum health. CCM [Internet]. 2025 Nov. 7 [cited 2026 Feb. 12];29:e5400. Available from: https://revcocmed.sld.cu/index.php/cocmed/article/view/5400