STORY:  Listerine vs. Floss

Script #572  SHOOT:  8/10/04

AIRDATE:  Monday, Sept. 13, 2004

                        Daybreak and Midday

DHC Master #19  Timecode: 1:00:36 You might think the subject of oral hygiene

                                                                                                would NOT stir up controversy, even

                                                                                                heated debate.  But it has. 

                                                                                                Scientists, dentists, and dental hygienists

                                                                                                are debating the merits of using Listerine

                                                                                                mouthwash instead of flossing.

                                                                                                Dr. Linda Niessen looks into this new

                                                                                                “oral argument” in today’s segment of

                SOVT:  1:42                                                           Dental Health Check.

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YOUNG WOMAN FLOSSING                           (VOICE-OVER)

SUPER:  Garland  :02-07                                    Flossing removes harmful plaque

                                                                                                between teeth.

YOUNG MAN USING LISTERINE    Rinsing with Listerine, according to its

                                                                                                maker, Pfizer, does the same thing.

                                                                                                That claim currently fuels a fierce debate among           dentists and hygienists.

ADA NEWS “To Floss or Not to Floss”         A study recently published in the

                                                                                                Journal of the American Dental Association

                                                                                                showed that rinsing twice daily with Listerine was as effective at reducing plaque

                                                                                                and gingivitis in areas between the

                                                                                                teeth as flossing once a day.

SUPER:  Dr. Dennis Abbott                                                (“The optimal use of Listerine is to

                        Dentist           :29-34                                     rinse twice a day for a 30 second duration

                                                                                                Each time that you rinse.”)

CLOSE-UP OF LISTERINE                                                 So what ingredients does Listerine contain that makes could make it effective?

DR. ABBOTT                                                                       (“Methyl salicylate, thymol, eucalyptol, and menthol.”)

WALTER THOMAS WALKING                      Walter Thomas flosses regularly to keep

                                                                                                his dental hygienist, as he says, off his back.

SUPER:  Walter Thomas   :54-58                     (“If you’re not going to floss, Listerine

                    Flosser                                                               alone probably would help it sounds like.”)   

MORE FLOSSING                                                                But Walter is part of a minority.  One study

                                                                                                showed that 90% of dentists reported that

                                                                                                most of their patients do not floss at all.

SUPER:  Renita Sansom  1:08-1:13                    (“Most people claim to floss especially

Dental Hygienist                                             while they are in the chair, but I would say not a very big percentage of people are

                                                                           Everyday faithful flossers.”)

MORE FLOSSING/RINSING                                              So best advice?  If you are a daily  flosser, please…don’t stop.

WALTER THOMAS                                                           (“I think I will probably continue to floss.”)

ON CAMERA                                                                       (STAND-UP CLOSE)

SUPER:   Dr. Linda Niessen                                              Most people don’t floss every day and

                   Baylor College of Dentistry            you’re not fooling your dental hygienist.

                                                                                                So if you are a flossing flunkout,

                                                                                                after you brush, consider rinsing twice a

                                                                                                day with Listerine. For

                                                                                                Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas

                                                                                                A & M System, I’m Dr. Linda

                                                                                                Niessen, Channel 8 News.

For websites:

More information about Listerine research:

Pfizer Consumer Healthcare conducted

two, six-month clinical studies that

comply with the American Dental Association

guidelines. Both studies were performed by

independent labs under contract with Pfizer.

At www.listerine.com , Pfizer outlines its research.

The American Dental Association still recommends

daily flossing to remove plaque between teeth.