For years,dentists have told us that flossing(用牙线剔牙)keeps our mouths and teeth healthy.But,while nearly everybody has heard of the idea,it turns out that there isn't much evidence to back it up.
“There's little evidence that flossing works,”reported an article published by The Associated Press(AP). The news agency looked at 25 studies from the past 10 years.The AP found that the evidence that flossing is good for your teeth is“weak” .
Another review of flossing,done in 2011,found that many studies were of“poor”quality,though it said there was some evidence that flossing and brushing regularly did seem to reduce gingivitis(牙龈炎).
Without clear evidence,the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015—2020 have left out the sentence about flossing.According to law,the guidelines must be based on scientific evidence.
But before you stop using that floss,you should know that many experts think we should keep doing it anyway Many dentists say that just because there is no evidence to show flossing is good for you,it doesn't mean that it is bad for you.
Joan Otomo-Corgel,a dentist with 32-year membership of the American Academy of Periodontology,told National Public Radio that flossing does help.She says it gets rid of bacteria(细菌)that take up the space between teeth and sometimes cause health problems.
Wayne Aldredge,president of the periodontists' group,also thinks you should floss to help avoid gum disease “It's like building a house and not painting two sides of it,”he told The Washington Post.“In the end,those two sides are going to rot away quicker.”
After all,“If you don't floss,you only clean 60 percent of your teeth,”U.S.dentist Andrew Swiatowicz told The Huffington Post.“Imagine if you left 40 percent of your body unshowered...Wouldn't you still feel gross?”
1. The underlined phrase“gets rid of”means（）
Aruns away
Bgives away
Ccleans up
Dcuts up
