https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35451656/

Conclusions: Interproximal gingival inflammation may be significantly reduced by toothbrushing alone, the effect being significantly enhanced when toothbrushing is combined with dental floss.

I regularly get food particles out of my molars using floss that brushing wouldn't have been able to, so for me it works.

I have always been an infrequent flosser, but deep down I've hoped for something like this to reach mainstream scientific consensus for a while so I no longer beat myself over it. Fingers crossed this is not a skewed study

> actual evidence that flossing is helpful seems pretty limited

If I don't floss my breath smells terrible because of bacteria and bacteria causes tooth decay. I'm pretty certain I'm not special.

I'd take it with a grain of salt at least in terms of personal experience.

It's kind of like how science-based lifting is spreading among the bodybuilding community. Is it useful? Absolutely. The issue with it as general advice is that most people don't know how to properly utilize it by missing basic concepts like applying appropriate intensity with solid form.

I don't have to floss in a perfect scenario, but maybe my technique is wrong. Even if I floss after brushing, I'll still find food lodged in between tight spaces. In this case I just floss because then I can at least remove that doubt.

Is this because people don’t floss properly? Or is it a study of people who floss properly?

Flossing is not merely essential to dislodging recalcitrant food particles, but also gives great stimulation to the gums themselves, and none of that effort is a waste, IMHO.

It is not sugar that causes dental caries, but bacteria. Flossing that old food out from between teeth is guaranteed to cut down bacteria growth!

Furthermore, my new and wonderful dentist and his hygienists wholeheartedly recommend and encourage the practice.

So perhaps you can excuse me for ignoring a singular “research study”.