Let's be clear about one thing. No study, and certainly no dentist, would ever claim or even imply that flossing is harmful. You would be hard-pressed to find a study that concludes a person's health is improved by eliminating flossing from her oral health routine.

We hate to break it to you.

Listen, I hear you when it comes to flossing. I don't always want to do it, and I have never enjoyed my dentist's well-meaning lectures to make flossing a habit. But, as much as I understand the dread of that flossing conversation, I am going to keep the conversation alive.