A federal judge stopped false Listerine ads, noting that floss cleans teeth better than the mouthwash. The President of the National Flossing Council comments on the decision.

(PRWEB) January 11, 2005 — A federal judge ruled that advertisements for Listerine are “false and misleading” because they claim using the mouthwash is as effective as flossing. Judge Denny Chin in New York ordered the Listerine ads stopped immediately and called them a “public health hazard.”

The court’s decision found that flossing helps prevent tooth decay and tooth loss, and that mouthwash cannot replace dental floss. “The benefits of flossing are real — not a ‘myth’”, wrote Judge Chin.

“We’re happy that the court has decided to stop these misleading ads,” said Dr. Armand Lione, President of the National Flossing Council (NFC), “but anyone who uses floss knows that it cleans between teeth far better than a mouthwash. Flossing gives you peace of mouth by keeping your teeth and gums healthy,” added Dr. Lione. “Everyone should floss regularly.”

The NFC has given its Flossy Award to Ellen DeGeneres and Jerry Seinfeld for their efforts to promote flossing. When asked whether Judge Denny Chin would receive the Flossy, Lione commented “I’m not sure whether Judge Chin will be eligible for a Flossy, but he’s certainly a public health hero for telling the truth about floss.”

The NFC is a Washington DC organization that promotes the use of dental floss. For additional information, see www.flossing.org or contact the NFC (e-mail protected from spam bots) 202.544.0711.