New study finds 1 in 3 Americans fail to floss

Dentists often suggest flossing as a highly effective way to avoid tooth loss and gum disease, but it appears many Americans choose to ignore that advice, reports U.S. News.

According to a recent study, about 32% of adults in the U.S. never floss, and just over 37% admitted that while they do, they fall short of recommended daily cleaning.

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Those statistics were taken from about 9,000 responses to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

The lead author of the study, Dr. Duong T. Nguyen of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, believes education about the importance of the practice is falling short.

He suggests primary care physicians join dentists in the fight for regular flossing by broaching a discussion about it with their patients.

Said Nguyen, "Repetition is the key to mastering. If you hear it more and hear it from different places, maybe it will stick a little more."

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