Prompt: Write about something that is "good for you" that you dislike.
I cannot understand why it is that flossing is so frequently recommended as a key to good health. Each time I visit the dentist, I am asked about this particular element of my dental hygiene. Each time, I lie. "Oh, I floss regularly – a few times a week, at least." But in reality, it is more like every other month, at best. If the dentist can tell that I am lying, he does not let on; nor do I reveal that I have no intention of following the advice he gives each time: "Make sure to keep up with that flossing!"
I always nod and smile, assuring him that I will follow this recommendation – especially since, according to the American Dental Association (ADA), flossing is “an essential part of taking care of your teeth and gums” that every person should perform daily (of course, they would say that).
But as far as I can tell, the evidence for why I should floss is nearly as flimsy as the gossamer thread itself. I’m not the only one that thinks so. In August, the Associated Press (AP) published a report shedding light on the weak evidence of flossing’s efficacy for preventing tooth decay and gum disease (though for their part, the ADA and the American Academy of Periodontology acknowledged the AP’s points but maintained their basic position that flossing is important).
So now, with the AP to back me up, I will proudly state the following: I have not flossed regularly at any point in my life, and my teeth are in excellent condition (or so my dentist tells me). I’ve never had a cavity of any kind. As a child, I actually enjoyed going to the dentist because I knew I would be praised for my pearly whites. What’s my secret? It’s a simple one, really: tap water. Once fluoride was added to community water supplies in 1945, the modest act of drinking from the tap became exponentially more important for dental health than did flossing. Or at least, that’s what I tell myself each time I eschew bottled water.
All this notwithstanding, why not just floss? It only takes a minute, you say, and it’s so easy. So, why not take that small bit of time to help keep your gums happy? To that, I reply: until I see evidence that my gums are even the slightest bit melancholy, that minute is time that could be spent on other pursuits – like sleep.
