0:00:02 > 0:00:04Every day, we're bombarded with conflicting messages
0:00:04 > 0:00:07about how to live a healthy, happy life.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11One minute, we're told something's the right thing to do.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14The next, it's the complete opposite.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17And we're left without a clue which advice to follow.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22So we've been wading through the confusion
0:00:22 > 0:00:25to separate the scare stories from the truth
0:00:25 > 0:00:29to help you work out what's best for you.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35Today, we're unpicking some of the confusing claims
0:00:35 > 0:00:39about items you might well have in your bathroom cabinet.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44It's the little pill with big powers.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46But should more of us be taking an aspirin a day?
0:00:46 > 0:00:49I've got to be absolutely honest, if I don't take it,
0:00:49 > 0:00:50the next day, I know about it.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54From soothing cuts and burns to helping weight loss
0:00:54 > 0:00:55and even treating IBS,
0:00:55 > 0:00:58do all the claims about aloe vera really stack up?
0:00:58 > 0:01:00There's lots of different causes for IBS.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03- Some people think IBS is started by stress.- Yes, definitely.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06- Sometimes, it's started by their poor diet.- That's right.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08So the thought that one particular substance,
0:01:08 > 0:01:10whether it be medicine or whether it be aloe vera,
0:01:10 > 0:01:12can be the cure for it is ridiculous,
0:01:12 > 0:01:14because you're not treating the cause.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17And is it time to toss the floss?
0:01:17 > 0:01:21We investigate claims that flossing between your teeth is pointless.
0:01:21 > 0:01:23We do have very good evidence about brushing your teeth.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25When we get down to flossing,
0:01:25 > 0:01:27we don't have the same amount of evidence.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33You know, there aren't too many drugs
0:01:33 > 0:01:36that can be bought for just a fraction of a penny a pill.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38And yet, they are so powerful
0:01:38 > 0:01:41they are frequently referred to as "wonder drugs".
0:01:41 > 0:01:43But I tell you,
0:01:43 > 0:01:45aspirin has been linked to all manner of health benefits.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47One of the many headlines here...
0:01:49 > 0:01:51And I can add to that list, actually.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54It goes from curing sepsis to battling certain cancers,
0:01:54 > 0:01:56boosting the chances of getting pregnant, even,
0:01:56 > 0:01:59to reducing your risk of heart disease and stroke, of course,
0:01:59 > 0:02:01- which we've known for a long time. - Absolutely.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03I've heard it's meant to be indispensable
0:02:03 > 0:02:05for people who have had a heart attack.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07And, of course, those who want to reduce
0:02:07 > 0:02:08the risk of having another one.
0:02:08 > 0:02:09Absolutely.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11Well, it turns out that the list of things
0:02:11 > 0:02:15that aspirin really can apparently do is longer than your arm.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19But it's also been said to have some very dangerous side effects,
0:02:19 > 0:02:20which I think is quite a worry.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22So I thought it was time that I set out to discover
0:02:22 > 0:02:27if aspirin really is one of the wonder drugs of the 21st century.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35Just about to do a first stretch of the narrowing here.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39Heart patient Ray Goodwin is in the middle of an operation
0:02:39 > 0:02:41to fit what's called a stent -
0:02:41 > 0:02:45a small tube that will help open up one of his arteries...
0:02:45 > 0:02:48- So I'm coming in here, all right? Have you got the wire?- Yeah.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50..and improve blood flow to the heart.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55The success of this operation has been helped enormously
0:02:55 > 0:02:57by the fact that last night
0:02:57 > 0:03:04Ray took a massive 600 milligram dose of this drug.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07Now, we're not talking here about something that's a pioneering
0:03:07 > 0:03:09or a multi-million pound drug
0:03:09 > 0:03:11which is right at the cutting edge of medical science,
0:03:11 > 0:03:15this is a drug that's been around for well over 100 years.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17It's aspirin.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20In specialist heart and chest hospitals,
0:03:20 > 0:03:24like this one in Liverpool, aspirin really is essential
0:03:24 > 0:03:28because it reduces the chances of blood clotting...
0:03:28 > 0:03:30And maybe just zoom in a little bit.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32..simplifying surgery for staff
0:03:32 > 0:03:35like consultant cardiologist Raphael Perry.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39The wire's gone down the blockage nice and smoothly.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42Dr Perry, can I just ask you, how important aspirin is
0:03:42 > 0:03:45to enable you to do this operation successfully?
0:03:45 > 0:03:48It's really making it safer, in terms of...
0:03:49 > 0:03:52..occasionally, when you've got instruments in the small arteries,
0:03:52 > 0:03:56there's a propensity to clotting and blocking the artery,
0:03:56 > 0:03:59maybe flying off down other arteries,
0:03:59 > 0:04:02so the pre-loading with aspirin and any other drugs during the procedure
0:04:02 > 0:04:03mitigate against that.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05So, the bottom line is, really,
0:04:05 > 0:04:07you couldn't have done this operation without aspirin.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10Absolutely. We wouldn't do the procedure without.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14For most of us, me included, aspirin is a humble painkiller.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16But you don't have to look far for claims that,
0:04:16 > 0:04:19in homes and hospitals up and down the country,
0:04:19 > 0:04:22it's much more than that.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25It's credited with increasing the chances of falling pregnant,
0:04:25 > 0:04:28curing sepsis, targeting tumours,
0:04:28 > 0:04:32fighting some cancers and fending off others.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35But the boldest claims attached to this humble little pill
0:04:35 > 0:04:38all revolve around one idea -
0:04:38 > 0:04:41that lots of us should be taking a small dose of aspirin every day.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44When Ray leaves here,
0:04:44 > 0:04:47that's just what he'll be told to do for the rest of his life.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50It'll help keep the blood flowing through the stent
0:04:50 > 0:04:51and, of course, his heart.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55- All done?- All done. - Successful?- Successful.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57- He's on aspirin now. - He's on aspirin.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01And his other usual drugs, if you like, for him to continue on.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04And if he doesn't get any symptoms in the next three months,
0:05:04 > 0:05:06you'd imagine you'll have a long-term success
0:05:06 > 0:05:07from that stent procedure,
0:05:07 > 0:05:08- not just a short-term value. - Brilliant.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11- So a good morning's work, then. - Not bad.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15Up on the wards, dozens of patients will all leave here
0:05:15 > 0:05:18with instructions to take a small dose of aspirin a day.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22And that's just what David has been doing for the past seven years.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24David, you're looking very cheerful.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27- But I gather you've had quite a serious operation.- Yes.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30- Yes, quite serious. - What did they do?
0:05:30 > 0:05:32I've had a bypass graft
0:05:32 > 0:05:35and they've changed the aorta valve.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38Dare I say, I got two for the price of one!
0:05:38 > 0:05:40It was quite complicated, by the sound of it.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42But, now, aspirin...
0:05:42 > 0:05:44How important has aspirin been to you?
0:05:44 > 0:05:46Because you had a heart attack how many years ago?
0:05:46 > 0:05:48The first one I had
0:05:48 > 0:05:51was probably about seven years ago, I would have thought.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54But I've been on soluble aspirin ever since.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57But I've got to be absolutely honest, if I don't take it,
0:05:57 > 0:05:58the next day, I know about it.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01- Would you have thought something as humble as an aspirin...- No.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04- ..could be that...- No. - ..important to you?- No. No.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07No. When my doctor said, "I'm putting you on aspirin,"
0:06:07 > 0:06:10I thought, "Well, I took aspirin as a kid."
0:06:10 > 0:06:12You know, it was sort of the last resort, aspirin.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15But I never thought that it would still be going now.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18- But it obviously is.- Yeah.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21- And how long now before you go home? - I'm hoping early next week.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24Well, David, we hope that you do get home next week
0:06:24 > 0:06:27- and that you stay well.- Thank you so much. Lovely to meet you.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30And pleasure to see you, too. Thank you.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33David and, indeed, many of the other patients in this hospital
0:06:33 > 0:06:35will be told to take aspirin
0:06:35 > 0:06:38to treat the heart conditions they already have.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41But looking at some of the reports about aspirin,
0:06:41 > 0:06:43there are claims that it would benefit those of us
0:06:43 > 0:06:45who don't have a heart problem.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48Dr Raphael Perry says they are broadly true.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50Well, there is good evidence
0:06:50 > 0:06:53that taking aspirin daily is of benefit,
0:06:53 > 0:06:56because it reduces the effects of vascular disease,
0:06:56 > 0:06:58in particular, heart attack and stroke.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01There's a lot of data published on this,
0:07:01 > 0:07:03which is, should people just take aspirin
0:07:03 > 0:07:06in the hope that they're not going to have something wrong with them in the future?
0:07:06 > 0:07:08And if you aggregate all those trials,
0:07:08 > 0:07:10there is a benefit in taking aspirin
0:07:10 > 0:07:14to reduce both heart and vascular disease.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17But there's a catch... Aspirin has side effects.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19You can have...
0:07:19 > 0:07:22quite significant bleeding side effects.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25And you have to pick the patients that are going to benefit most
0:07:25 > 0:07:27in order to mitigate that risk, in a sense.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29So people should be aware that, if they're taking aspirin,
0:07:29 > 0:07:32- it will thin their blood significantly.- Absolutely.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34Although rare, the greater chance of bleeding
0:07:34 > 0:07:37can increase the risk of some types of strokes.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40And aspirin can also irritate the stomach lining,
0:07:40 > 0:07:42causing indigestion, nausea
0:07:42 > 0:07:45and, in extreme cases, even leading to ulcers.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48Dr Perry says, if you've only got a very low risk
0:07:48 > 0:07:50of developing heart disease,
0:07:50 > 0:07:52an aspirin a day isn't right for you.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55You just have to take that into the mix and say, "Is it worth it?"
0:07:55 > 0:07:58And for someone who's 40 and well, with no family history,
0:07:58 > 0:08:02normal cholesterol, no risk factors for heart disease,
0:08:02 > 0:08:06then the risk of them having a heart attack
0:08:06 > 0:08:08or something develop with their heart
0:08:08 > 0:08:10over that ten years is very low.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13It's maybe 4% or something of that order.
0:08:13 > 0:08:17And once it starts to creep up to that 15% or a higher risk,
0:08:17 > 0:08:20then the value of aspirin becomes more significant.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23But some reports don't always make that trade-off clear.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27And seeing stories like this about an American study,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29which recommended that everyone over the age of 51
0:08:29 > 0:08:32should be taking a small dose of aspirin a day,
0:08:32 > 0:08:34you might be tempted to do the same thing
0:08:34 > 0:08:36without knowing the full story.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38What strikes me is that aspirin
0:08:38 > 0:08:41is such a cheap thing to buy over the counter,
0:08:41 > 0:08:42it would be very easy for people to think
0:08:42 > 0:08:44that they have to self-medicate,
0:08:44 > 0:08:46just go and buy it because they think there might be a risk.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49But you, obviously, would recommend against that.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52I think that it's a long-term treatment.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55The benefit isn't really evident until year ten or 11.
0:08:55 > 0:08:56I would always recommend that,
0:08:56 > 0:08:59if you're going onto something long-term, in particular,
0:08:59 > 0:09:01then you should do that through your doctor
0:09:01 > 0:09:03- with some advice and a professional view.- Mm.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07But while the vast majority of us
0:09:07 > 0:09:09don't need to take an aspirin a day,
0:09:09 > 0:09:13elsewhere in the hospital, there are dozens of patients who do.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16Including bypass patient Doreen.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19Doreen, you look very happy for a lady
0:09:19 > 0:09:23- who's had pretty major surgery, I think.- Thank you very much.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25- What was your surgery? - I had a triple bypass.
0:09:25 > 0:09:26Good Lord!
0:09:26 > 0:09:29So what have they told you now about aspirin in the hospital?
0:09:29 > 0:09:32They just explained to me that, obviously,
0:09:32 > 0:09:33I now need to take some aspirin,
0:09:33 > 0:09:37just to help me through my heart condition.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39So, yes...
0:09:39 > 0:09:41And you may have to be on it for a very long time.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44I don't mind. It's one of those, isn't it?
0:09:44 > 0:09:45I've been given my second chance.
0:09:45 > 0:09:50So...I'm going to take that second chance, aren't I?
0:09:50 > 0:09:52You're Ian, aren't you?
0:09:52 > 0:09:55Hello, Ian, how are you doing today? What have you had?
0:09:55 > 0:09:58I've had a bypass operation.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00- How are you feeling? - Absolutely perfect.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02- Are you taking your aspirin? - Yes, I am.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05Well, you'll be up and about doing the fandango before you know it.
0:10:05 > 0:10:06I will do, yes.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11When Doreen and Ian return home,
0:10:11 > 0:10:15they'll take with them aspirin provided by the hospital's pharmacy.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18Danny, hello, good to see you.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22Danny Forrest is the hospital's deputy chief pharmacist.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25So, Danny, we're right in the nerve centre of the hospital here,
0:10:25 > 0:10:26in the pharmacy.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28Have you any idea how many boxes of aspirin
0:10:28 > 0:10:31or how many individual aspirin tablets
0:10:31 > 0:10:32you send out of here in a year?
0:10:32 > 0:10:36Well, something in the region of about 6,000 boxes of aspirin
0:10:36 > 0:10:39are dispensed from this pharmacy every year.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41- And how many tablets in a box? - 28.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43And it's 10p a box, so...
0:10:45 > 0:10:48That's 168,000 aspirin every year in this hospital.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51In the whole of England last year,
0:10:51 > 0:10:55doctors wrote a massive 26 million prescriptions for aspirin.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57But the cost is comparatively small.
0:10:57 > 0:11:02In fact, aspirin is so cheap that this place spends just £600
0:11:02 > 0:11:05on its supply for the whole year.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07Do you think that's why perhaps,
0:11:07 > 0:11:09amongst all the drugs that are available to us,
0:11:09 > 0:11:12because we're familiar with it, that's what makes it so popular?
0:11:12 > 0:11:16Perhaps. But also, again, it's very cheap.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18A lot of the newer drugs are costing
0:11:18 > 0:11:23anywhere in the region of £40, £50, sometimes £100 per box.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25So in the cash-strapped NHS,
0:11:25 > 0:11:28in terms of its cost effectiveness,
0:11:28 > 0:11:31it's high up on the list.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34Every day, Danny and his team send hundreds of aspirin
0:11:34 > 0:11:36to wards and clinics around the hospital.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39And because this one specialises in cardiac treatment,
0:11:39 > 0:11:42every single department uses it.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45So we have medicine, we have cardiology here,
0:11:45 > 0:11:47we also have cardiac surgery.
0:11:47 > 0:11:52So it'd be sent to patients that have had cardiac bypass grafting,
0:11:52 > 0:11:55patients that have had valve replacements.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00I have to say, I am rather taken aback by the number of aspirin
0:12:00 > 0:12:03they get through here in a week, never mind in a year.
0:12:03 > 0:12:07But then, this is a hospital that specialises in heart disease,
0:12:07 > 0:12:09so what would you expect?
0:12:09 > 0:12:12But then, of course, the one area where you can honestly say
0:12:12 > 0:12:17that aspirin is a miracle drug is in treating cardiac patients.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23There are other areas, though, where it's not such a miracle drug,
0:12:23 > 0:12:25even though there are plenty of reports
0:12:25 > 0:12:27that might make you think that it is.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30Some suggest it might cure sepsis or even help increase
0:12:30 > 0:12:32the chances of some women getting pregnant.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35But unfortunately, there's just not enough evidence
0:12:35 > 0:12:37for aspirin to claim those accolades.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42There is, however, a mounting body of research that says
0:12:42 > 0:12:46it could be a powerful weapon against another big killer, cancer.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51And Nicola Smith from Cancer Research UK says that,
0:12:51 > 0:12:55for the most part, these stories can be believed.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57The evidence around cancer prevention and aspirin
0:12:57 > 0:13:00has been building for some decades now.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03There are some cancer types where we have really good evidence
0:13:03 > 0:13:07that aspirin could reduce the risk of those cancers developing.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09Bowel, oesophageal and stomach cancer,
0:13:09 > 0:13:12we have good evidence that if you take an aspirin every day,
0:13:12 > 0:13:17between 50 and 65, that you will have a lower risk of those cancers.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21But there's a word of caution here, too, and it's just the same as for
0:13:21 > 0:13:25anyone tempted to take an aspirin a day to prevent heart disease.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28If you're taking higher doses and taking it every day
0:13:28 > 0:13:30for a number of years, which is what's needed to see
0:13:30 > 0:13:33the benefit in terms of reducing the risk of cancer,
0:13:33 > 0:13:35there are potential side-effects,
0:13:35 > 0:13:37and those are things like strokes,
0:13:37 > 0:13:41but also gastrointestinal bleeding, so bleeding in your stomach,
0:13:41 > 0:13:44for example, and that can kill in some instances.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48It also claimed aspirin could be powerful in treating cancer
0:13:48 > 0:13:50that's already developed,
0:13:50 > 0:13:54but Nicola says there's not enough evidence to prove that just yet
0:13:54 > 0:13:57because, perhaps surprisingly for a drug that is more than
0:13:57 > 0:14:01a century old, new uses for it are still being uncovered.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03There are some trials that are ongoing looking at whether
0:14:03 > 0:14:06aspirin might be able to stop cancer returning.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08So it wouldn't be the first thing you're given when you go in
0:14:08 > 0:14:11for cancer treatment, but there are trials looking at whether
0:14:11 > 0:14:15it might be helpful in terms of stopping the cancer coming back.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18There are also trials looking at aspirin alongside
0:14:18 > 0:14:21other conventional cancer treatments,
0:14:21 > 0:14:24so for example we're funding a trial looking into radiotherapy
0:14:24 > 0:14:27and whether, if people are taking aspirin while they're having
0:14:27 > 0:14:31radiotherapy for rectal cancer, that the outcomes are better.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33But that's still a work in progress.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36While that research continues, aspirin's powers against cancer
0:14:36 > 0:14:39remain in prevention rather than treatment.
0:14:39 > 0:14:40But back in Liverpool,
0:14:40 > 0:14:43it's a different story when it comes to heart disease,
0:14:43 > 0:14:47and Danny feels that in the future aspirin may prove indispensable
0:14:47 > 0:14:50to an even wider range of patients.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53Can you see aspirin in the future being used for things other than
0:14:53 > 0:14:56pain relief, for cardiovascular?
0:14:56 > 0:14:59We're now hearing that it may have some effect on some cancers.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02Is there no end to what it's going to be able to do?
0:15:02 > 0:15:07I know there is a lot of interest within the fields of oncology
0:15:07 > 0:15:11and obstetrics and gynaecology, so who knows?
0:15:11 > 0:15:14But I think certainly aspirin's here to stay for a good while longer.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19Back at the operating theatre, Ray,
0:15:19 > 0:15:21who I last saw having a stent fitted,
0:15:21 > 0:15:24has recovered from his surgery and is ready to go home.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29- You've waited for me. - Oh, look at that! Happy man.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31Want to see your happiness.
0:15:31 > 0:15:32How are you feeling?
0:15:32 > 0:15:35I'm feeling like I should jump over the world.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37- Oh!- And I probably could.
0:15:37 > 0:15:38- Well done.- Oh, it's fantastic.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41- Thanks for letting us join you in there.- Well, I'm glad you did.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43- And I'm glad it was a success. - Amazing.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46- So, all health in the future to you. - Dancing on Monday.- Absolutely.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50- Strictly Come Dancing next November. Are you on? Partnership?- I'm on.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52When I started making this film,
0:15:52 > 0:15:55obviously I was already aware of some of the properties that
0:15:55 > 0:15:59aspirin had, but was I sure that it could be described as a wonder drug?
0:15:59 > 0:16:01Well, maybe not.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03And certainly, some of the claims made for it
0:16:03 > 0:16:05are a bit difficult to believe.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07But nevertheless,
0:16:07 > 0:16:10having seen what has happened here in this hospital,
0:16:10 > 0:16:14I think there's no doubt that aspirin really is
0:16:14 > 0:16:18a life-changing and in many cases life-saving drug.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22And I'm sure Ray would agree.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33Well, from a truly remarkable drug that, well,
0:16:33 > 0:16:35I suppose it's been around for the best part of 100 years now,
0:16:35 > 0:16:36- hasn't it?- Yeah.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39To one that I think has been around for even longer than that
0:16:39 > 0:16:44but has only very recently come to the fore, and that's aloe vera.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47Now, for most of the time I think it's been used for treating burns,
0:16:47 > 0:16:49- I think I'm right in saying. - That's right, yeah.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51But, well, these days it's cropping up
0:16:51 > 0:16:53in all sorts of beauty-based products,
0:16:53 > 0:16:57everything from shampoos and toothpaste to body creams and,
0:16:57 > 0:16:59well, just about everything you can imagine.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02Yeah, and that's because some of the claims being made for how good
0:17:02 > 0:17:05aloe vera is for us are, well, pretty dramatic.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09It's even been said to help treat IBS and Type II diabetes.
0:17:09 > 0:17:10Bold statements.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13But almost as vocal as its fans are its critics,
0:17:13 > 0:17:16who say, "Well, the science really doesn't stand up."
0:17:16 > 0:17:18So, with its popularity fanned by aloe vera parties
0:17:18 > 0:17:21in living rooms up and down the country,
0:17:21 > 0:17:24I thought the only way for me to really find out
0:17:24 > 0:17:26if it's all it's cracked up to be
0:17:26 > 0:17:28was, well, to throw a party of my own.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31My invitation's still in the post, then, is it?
0:17:31 > 0:17:32HE CLEARS HIS THROAT
0:17:40 > 0:17:42It's the latest must-have health product
0:17:42 > 0:17:46with all kinds of supposed medicinal and healing properties.
0:17:46 > 0:17:50Aloe vera is in just about anything these days.
0:17:50 > 0:17:51Mouthwash.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53Juice.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55Sham...poo.
0:17:55 > 0:17:56Toothpaste.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58And facemasks.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02The market is worth billions.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04And with celebrities widely reported
0:18:04 > 0:18:07to have added it to their beauty regimes and their diets,
0:18:07 > 0:18:10the aloe vera craze shows no sign of slowing.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14But there's another side to the story, too,
0:18:14 > 0:18:17with some very bold claims about how it can treat conditions
0:18:17 > 0:18:20such as irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes
0:18:20 > 0:18:23and even cancer.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25It doesn't take too much of an internet search
0:18:25 > 0:18:28to see how aloe vera really can divide opinion.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30Bodies like the Royal College of Nursing
0:18:30 > 0:18:33warn that claims about the health benefits of aloe vera
0:18:33 > 0:18:36should be met with caution, while Cancer Research UK
0:18:36 > 0:18:39says that there is no scientific evidence to prove
0:18:39 > 0:18:42that aloe vera can treat any type of cancer,
0:18:42 > 0:18:45and that it may cause severe side-effects when used in this way.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48One thing that some of these sites do agree
0:18:48 > 0:18:51is that aloe vera can treat burns.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54But, other than that, the jury's still out.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58So I'm having a little soiree to find out if this wonder plant
0:18:58 > 0:19:00is everything it's cracked up to be.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03And, oddly enough, it's aloe vera parties like this
0:19:03 > 0:19:06that have led to the huge rise in the super plant's popularity.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08- DOORBELL - Come on in, welcome.
0:19:08 > 0:19:09- You OK?- How are you?
0:19:09 > 0:19:12'My guests include aloe vera fans Leila and Domitilla,
0:19:12 > 0:19:15'two medical herbalists, Dalbinder and Sue...'
0:19:15 > 0:19:16Yeah, come on in, come on in.
0:19:16 > 0:19:17- How are you? You all right?- Hi, yes.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19'..GP Dr Arun Ghosh,
0:19:19 > 0:19:21'dermatologist Dr Juba Haffejee...'
0:19:21 > 0:19:23Doctor Juba. Nice.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25'..and, finally, dietician Dimple Thakrar.'
0:19:25 > 0:19:27Very well. Welcome to our aloe vera party.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31'They all use aloe vera,
0:19:31 > 0:19:34'or have patients and clients who ask them about it,
0:19:34 > 0:19:37'but they don't all agree on its merits.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41'I'm getting the party started with aloe's best-known use, for the skin.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44'This is one area that is agreed to be quite effective,
0:19:44 > 0:19:48'and it's the one Domitilla, Leila and herbalist Dalbinder
0:19:48 > 0:19:50'all say they use it for.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52'Dermatologist Dr Haffejee agrees,
0:19:52 > 0:19:55'but says we shouldn't get carried away.'
0:19:55 > 0:19:58Well, aloe vera has soothing properties.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02It will soothe the skin, it will moisturise the skin
0:20:02 > 0:20:05and, you know, if somebody has a sunburn for example, you know,
0:20:05 > 0:20:08if you've got aloe vera handy, not a bad thing.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12There's a lot of evidence out there for its benefits on the skin,
0:20:12 > 0:20:15from its antimicrobial properties, anti-ageing properties...
0:20:15 > 0:20:18But really, when you look at the literature,
0:20:18 > 0:20:21although there's a lot of interesting evidence out there,
0:20:21 > 0:20:25the quality of the evidence isn't as good as what we would like.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29At the moment, we've got a lot of questions unanswered.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31You know, if it works for the patient, great.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35But I think a lot more evidence needs to be undertaken.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38As Dr Juba says, skincare is the one area
0:20:38 > 0:20:42where aloe vera's claims do have some medical support.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44It's been shown in small studies to be effective
0:20:44 > 0:20:47at treating burns and wounds.
0:20:47 > 0:20:52But aloe vera fan Leila loves it in another product altogether. Drinks.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54If you're constantly drinking aloe vera...
0:20:54 > 0:20:57I'm not talking, like, for a couple of weeks, I'm talking months,
0:20:57 > 0:21:00- you know, to actually see the benefits.- OK.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02You know, your hair will be better condition, your nails,
0:21:02 > 0:21:04your skin, and you'll just feel better.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07The biggest claims for aloe vera are for its effects
0:21:07 > 0:21:12on digestive conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14Domitilla, who used to run her own business
0:21:14 > 0:21:16selling aloe vera products, claims it really works.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21I can tell you that I have saved some people
0:21:21 > 0:21:24from going on the operating table.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28Through IBS, colitis...
0:21:28 > 0:21:33All of these, internally, are very terrible problems.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36NICE, the Government's health watchdog, has said that
0:21:36 > 0:21:39it discourages people from using aloe vera to treat IBS.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43The reason why NICE have chosen to say it's not to be used...
0:21:43 > 0:21:46The problem is that, when it's given for a long period of time,
0:21:46 > 0:21:47people become resistant to it,
0:21:47 > 0:21:49and it can actually cause problems with the bowel.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51So there's lots of different causes for IBS.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54- Some people's IBS is started by stress.- Exactly that.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56Sometimes it's started by their poor diet.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59Sometimes it's because they're positionally sitting down all day,
0:21:59 > 0:22:01- and not stimulating their bowels. - That's right.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03So the thought that one particular substance,
0:22:03 > 0:22:06whether it be medicine or whether it be aloe vera,
0:22:06 > 0:22:07can be the cure for it is ridiculous,
0:22:07 > 0:22:09because you're not treating the cause.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13Aloe vera has also been used as a natural remedy to treat
0:22:13 > 0:22:16constipation for years. But it can have side effects of diarrhoea
0:22:16 > 0:22:21and cramping, as well as being linked to kidney and liver problems.
0:22:21 > 0:22:25It's for this reason, in 2002, the US Food and Drug Administration
0:22:25 > 0:22:29banned it from being sold over the counter as a laxative.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33But there's another popular use of aloe vera, for weight loss.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37Indeed, Domitilla believes they helped her to lose weight,
0:22:37 > 0:22:41and some of her customers come to her hoping for similar results.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44But what does dietician Dimple Thakrar think?
0:22:45 > 0:22:49- Would you advocate aloe vera for weight loss?- No.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52I certainly wouldn't be advocating aloe vera for weight loss,
0:22:52 > 0:22:56and the reason for that is a lot of the weight loss programmes
0:22:56 > 0:23:01- that include aloe vera are actually a very low calorie diet.- OK.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04So, if you were to take a very low calorie diet,
0:23:04 > 0:23:08and I'm talking 600, 700 calories a day, you would lose weight.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12- Definitely lose weight with that! - It's not rocket science.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15Dieticians warn against any kind of very low calorie diet,
0:23:15 > 0:23:19because it's very easy to miss out on essential nutrients too.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22And Arun says when that is combined with another side-effect
0:23:22 > 0:23:25of some aloe vera products, there could be serious implications.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28Some people can actually get adverse reactions, they can actually
0:23:28 > 0:23:31break out in rashes, their bowels can actually be quite...
0:23:31 > 0:23:36Quite strongly react to it. So always take those things with caution.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39Some aloe vera products can cause adverse reactions
0:23:39 > 0:23:41when they're eaten or drunk,
0:23:41 > 0:23:44if they contain the rind or the latex of the plant.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48Many companies avoid those parts of the plant and just use the gel
0:23:48 > 0:23:50from the centre of the leaf in their products.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53But Domitilla says it's always important
0:23:53 > 0:23:54to read the label to be sure.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57Now, when the aloe vera becomes laxative
0:23:57 > 0:23:59is when the company uses the rind.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02So what you're reading when you're buying a product,
0:24:02 > 0:24:04you must read - does it have the rind?
0:24:04 > 0:24:07If it has the rind, go away from it.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10After casting doubt on aloe vera's weight loss credentials,
0:24:10 > 0:24:15dietician Dimple's equally quick to question some other claims too.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19We've got internal cleansing tablets, or colon cleansing.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22- What are your thoughts on this? - The same sort of thing.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25It does have a natural laxative in it,
0:24:25 > 0:24:28and that is going to obviously cleanse your colon.
0:24:28 > 0:24:32But, actually, your colon doesn't need to be cleansed.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35- It's meant to have bacteria in it. - How can they...
0:24:35 > 0:24:40How can they advertise that and sell that if, medically, it's not sound?
0:24:40 > 0:24:44Because aloe vera doesn't come under a drug, it's actually a food.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46So therefore it's not regulated in the same way
0:24:46 > 0:24:48as a drug would be regulated.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51But while some of the adverse effects linked to aloe vera
0:24:51 > 0:24:53aren't always easy to find out about,
0:24:53 > 0:24:56the claims for how great it is can be hard to miss.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59An article last year said that taking aloe vera
0:24:59 > 0:25:00lowered your blood cholesterol,
0:25:00 > 0:25:03lowered your blood pressure and improved your immune system.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06- What are your thoughts on that? - This was some work done in rats,
0:25:06 > 0:25:10and it's not been extrapolated to the human.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13So therefore, again, more evidence - we need more evidence.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16And I always think, "How would I treat my own family?"
0:25:16 > 0:25:18My dad's diabetic and he's hypertensive.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21I certainly won't be going out and buying him aloe vera juice
0:25:21 > 0:25:22to try and treat that for him.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26Until we get that evidence, we cannot recommend aloe vera,
0:25:26 > 0:25:31and we cannot say that it does the things that you've said,
0:25:31 > 0:25:33lowering cholesterol, blood sugars...
0:25:33 > 0:25:36People think, "Oh, maybe I can just treat my blood pressure
0:25:36 > 0:25:39"or my blood sugar by using aloe vera."
0:25:39 > 0:25:42So a viewer who has now been introduced to aloe vera,
0:25:42 > 0:25:43they've seen the headlines saying,
0:25:43 > 0:25:45"Aloe vera can help you with weight loss,
0:25:45 > 0:25:48"it can improve your immune system," what's the answer?
0:25:48 > 0:25:50So what they need to do is do their research.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53They need to find out, where is the evidence?
0:25:53 > 0:25:57If they're not sure, they need to be speaking to their medics.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59What they shouldn't be doing is googling it
0:25:59 > 0:26:02and reading the first thing that comes up on Google.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04And I'm not anti-aloe vera in any shape or form,
0:26:04 > 0:26:07but what I want my patients to be is well-informed.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09We've got to be really careful that they're getting
0:26:09 > 0:26:12reasonable information so they can make their own informed decision.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16'So, with a resounding word of caution for anyone using aloe vera
0:26:16 > 0:26:20'on anything other than their skin, my guests start to head home.'
0:26:21 > 0:26:24We asked some of the companies behind the leading aloe vera brands
0:26:24 > 0:26:27about the things my guests discussed and they told us that their
0:26:27 > 0:26:30products are enjoyed by millions of people seeking
0:26:30 > 0:26:34a natural alternative to support their health.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37Some pointed out that not all companies made claims about
0:26:37 > 0:26:40the medical benefits of using their products.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43And one brand added that its on-pack instructions make it clear that
0:26:43 > 0:26:47their products are not a substitute for a healthy balanced diet,
0:26:47 > 0:26:50and that anyone with existing medical conditions should
0:26:50 > 0:26:53always seek advice from their GP before using them.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59It was really good, it was really insightful, I learned quite a lot.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02Obviously, I've got my own ideas about aloe vera.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05They're still the same, I'm still going to use the products.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08It just shows, it's really difficult for the general public to
0:27:08 > 0:27:10make an informed decision about things.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13There's so much in the press that they've got to really make sure
0:27:13 > 0:27:15that they understand and are happy with.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18I met a lot of interesting people that had different views on
0:27:18 > 0:27:21the aloe vera, I enjoyed it so much.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23Very, very awakening.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26I think aloe vera's a wonderful plant, it's got its benefits.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30I don't think it's the miracle that it's maybe held up to be.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34'I have to say, after what I learned tonight, I agree with Sue.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38'Not all the claims really stand up to scrutiny
0:27:38 > 0:27:41'and whilst for the most part, they won't do you any harm,
0:27:41 > 0:27:45'we should probably all be wary of any claims that aloe vera is a cure for all ills.'
0:27:50 > 0:27:52Now, for millions of people,
0:27:52 > 0:27:55cleaning your teeth doesn't just stop when you're done brushing.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58- Angela, do you floss? - Only on those occasions when I know I've got something kind of stuck
0:27:58 > 0:28:02in between them and there is no other way of getting it out but I...
0:28:02 > 0:28:04I put my hands up, I'm not a regular flosser.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07Well, I've got to put my hand up as well because I only used to floss
0:28:07 > 0:28:10just before I went to the dentist until obviously the dentist said,
0:28:10 > 0:28:12"Kev, you've got to floss all of the time."
0:28:12 > 0:28:14Now, when we woke up to this headline...
0:28:16 > 0:28:19I mean, we can't have been the only ones taken aback and left
0:28:19 > 0:28:22wondering whether we'd been wasting time and money for all those years.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25It's a pretty positive statement, that, isn't it?
0:28:25 > 0:28:28So, we asked committed flosser Danny Crates if
0:28:28 > 0:28:31he would look behind these headlines and find out once and for all
0:28:31 > 0:28:34whether or not we'd actually all be a lot better off by getting
0:28:34 > 0:28:37to bed just a couple of minutes earlier and moving that reel
0:28:37 > 0:28:42of floss out of the bathroom cabinet and dropping it in the bathroom bin.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56DANNY: Like millions of others, I start and end my day in the bathroom,
0:28:56 > 0:28:59taking the time to care for my pearly whites.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03Now, I'm a committed flosser and I've been using trusty little
0:29:03 > 0:29:07flossing wands like this twice a day, every day, for years.
0:29:07 > 0:29:11I always believed that flossing keeps my mouth
0:29:11 > 0:29:15that little bit cleaner and in better shape than it would if I didn't.
0:29:15 > 0:29:19But last year, a story hit the news that poured cold water all
0:29:19 > 0:29:21over my twice daily ritual.
0:29:21 > 0:29:24It said there is no evidence that flossing does any good.
0:29:24 > 0:29:26Now, for decades,
0:29:26 > 0:29:28dentists have recommended we should floss once a day.
0:29:28 > 0:29:31But how useful is flossing?
0:29:31 > 0:29:33An investigation by the Associated Press suggests there is
0:29:33 > 0:29:36insufficient proof that it's beneficial.
0:29:36 > 0:29:40But those reports were quickly met by others telling us not to give up.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43Because, just as our dentists have long been telling us,
0:29:43 > 0:29:45flossing cleans between our teeth,
0:29:45 > 0:29:48keeps plaque at bay and helps us avoid fillings.
0:29:49 > 0:29:51So, with all the conflicting information, the future of
0:29:51 > 0:29:56the floss in my bathroom cabinet is, well, hanging by a thread.
0:29:56 > 0:29:59But what is going on inside my mouth when I floss?
0:29:59 > 0:30:02And is it really as good for my gnashers as my dentist has been telling me?
0:30:02 > 0:30:06CHOIR SINGS
0:30:06 > 0:30:09To help me find out, I have recruited a group of people
0:30:09 > 0:30:14whose teeth are on show more often than most, the Salford Choral Society.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21'They've agreed to take part in our very own flossing experiment.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27'Now, it's time to see which dental habits produce the most decibels.'
0:30:29 > 0:30:31Who here flosses regularly?
0:30:32 > 0:30:35THEY SING NOTE
0:30:37 > 0:30:40'Not exactly taking the roof off there.'
0:30:40 > 0:30:42So, who here flosses but not regularly?
0:30:44 > 0:30:46THEY SING NOTE
0:30:48 > 0:30:51'That was definitely a few decibels louder than our regular flossers.'
0:30:51 > 0:30:54Who has never flossed before?
0:30:56 > 0:30:59THEY SING NOTE
0:30:59 > 0:31:02'Finally hitting a quiet low note there are our non-flossers.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06'But what are the reasons behind our choir's flossing habits?'
0:31:06 > 0:31:08I am a flosser.
0:31:08 > 0:31:12Because I was advised by my dentist, because my gums were bleeding.
0:31:12 > 0:31:17When my electric toothbrush doesn't remove all the stuff between my teeth, I floss.
0:31:17 > 0:31:21I've been advised by my dental hygienist to floss at least once a day.
0:31:21 > 0:31:24I don't always live up to her commands, I'm afraid.
0:31:24 > 0:31:28The first fillings I ever had in my life were for cavities
0:31:28 > 0:31:31between my teeth, so the dentist said, if I'd flossed
0:31:31 > 0:31:33I probably wouldn't have had them.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36And I've flossed ever since and I haven't had any more fillings.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39It just doesn't appeal to me, I don't think it works.
0:31:39 > 0:31:42And it looks painful and I hear tales of people who have cut
0:31:42 > 0:31:44their gums with their floss.
0:31:46 > 0:31:50Of the 52 singers that put their hands up, 11 have never flossed,
0:31:50 > 0:31:5327 claim to do it occasionally
0:31:53 > 0:31:56and only 14 floss every day.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59It might not sound like many, but it's roughly the same as the
0:31:59 > 0:32:03national average, because less than a quarter of us floss regularly.
0:32:04 > 0:32:08Is there a chord that's going to show these beautiful pearly whites?
0:32:08 > 0:32:10I think so. Roddy?
0:32:10 > 0:32:12PIANO PLAYS CHORD
0:32:12 > 0:32:15THEY SING SUSTAINED NOTE
0:32:17 > 0:32:20I don't know about the choir's 14 flossers
0:32:20 > 0:32:23but I floss because I've been told it's vital for getting rid of
0:32:23 > 0:32:27bacteria which causes tooth decay and gum disease.
0:32:28 > 0:32:32It's a message dentist Ben Atkins delivers to his patients every day.
0:32:33 > 0:32:35Floss, traditionally,
0:32:35 > 0:32:38has been used to clean in between the patient's teeth.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41That's often the place we get all our dental decay starting.
0:32:41 > 0:32:45So, we take round about a metre of floss, so what we'll do then
0:32:45 > 0:32:49is get to the top of the tooth and slide up and down.
0:32:49 > 0:32:52And then you move on from one side and you roll it on,
0:32:52 > 0:32:54so you're using a fresh piece of floss, so it's cleaning,
0:32:54 > 0:32:56not transferring the bacteria around,
0:32:56 > 0:32:59and you go back into the same place and lean on to do the side
0:32:59 > 0:33:01of the tooth and go up and down, until it goes squeakily clean,
0:33:01 > 0:33:05so you'll actually hear a slight squeak, and everything's clean there.
0:33:05 > 0:33:08It's quite tricky but it's to make sure we don't get
0:33:08 > 0:33:11a build-up of plaque, which eventually can cause gum
0:33:11 > 0:33:14disease or decay and holes in our teeth.
0:33:14 > 0:33:18'When put like that, it all sounds very simple.
0:33:18 > 0:33:22'And quite different to the impression I got from some of those reports.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25'But when I showed some members of the choir those stories,
0:33:25 > 0:33:28'they had the same instant reaction as me.'
0:33:28 > 0:33:31Flossing teeth has no health benefit.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34It'll make me feel less guilty when I don't floss.
0:33:34 > 0:33:36THEY LAUGH
0:33:36 > 0:33:38It would make me continue to not floss.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41"Flossing is a waste of time, now they tell us!"
0:33:41 > 0:33:44I disagree with it because I know it's had benefits for me.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47It's difficult to believe that it does any good, the floss.
0:33:47 > 0:33:52I disagree, I floss once a day and after a meal,
0:33:52 > 0:33:56if stuff is stuck between your teeth, it does get rid of it.
0:33:56 > 0:34:00'But as a lifelong flosser, I think it does do some good,
0:34:00 > 0:34:03'so to find out whether flossing is really a waste of time,
0:34:03 > 0:34:06'I've asked the choir to help us run a test.
0:34:07 > 0:34:09'We've asked 10 members who either floss regularly,
0:34:09 > 0:34:15'occasionally, or not at all, to let us test the levels of plaque-causing bacteria in between their teeth.'
0:34:15 > 0:34:19I'm going to pass these around, take one of these flossing wands.
0:34:19 > 0:34:22'If flossing really does reduce the amount of bacteria,
0:34:22 > 0:34:26'then the flossers should all have less of it between their teeth than the non-flossers.'
0:34:26 > 0:34:29So, how was your first flossing experience?
0:34:29 > 0:34:31- Horrid! - THEY LAUGH
0:34:31 > 0:34:34- It's hard to get in between your teeth.- It is.
0:34:34 > 0:34:35'With all the samples bagged up,
0:34:35 > 0:34:39'I'm sending them off for expert scrutiny -
0:34:39 > 0:34:42'to Doctor Chloe James of the University of Salford,
0:34:42 > 0:34:44'who is an expert in the microbiology of the mouth.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49'Thanks to the unique mix of saliva, fluid and food,
0:34:49 > 0:34:52'the mouth is the perfect place for bacteria to thrive.
0:34:53 > 0:34:56'Chloe's going to compare the amount of pathogenic bacteria of
0:34:56 > 0:35:01'those who do clean in between their teeth versus those that don't.'
0:35:01 > 0:35:05That's the bacteria that can cause plaque that leads to tooth decay,
0:35:05 > 0:35:08and can also cause periodontal disease,
0:35:08 > 0:35:10otherwise known as gum disease.
0:35:11 > 0:35:15What I'm expecting to see is that we'll get more material
0:35:15 > 0:35:18from those people that don't normally clean between their teeth,
0:35:18 > 0:35:22because there'll be a lot of compacted food and bacteria there.
0:35:22 > 0:35:26A number of larger studies have been done similar to this study
0:35:26 > 0:35:28and they have found, in certain cases,
0:35:28 > 0:35:31that flossing makes a big difference,
0:35:31 > 0:35:36particularly for children. If they are being flossed by a professional,
0:35:36 > 0:35:38depending on your technique,
0:35:38 > 0:35:39flossing can determine
0:35:39 > 0:35:43how much bacteria you're able to dislodge from between your teeth.
0:35:43 > 0:35:47Chloe will leave these samples to culture for 72 hours,
0:35:47 > 0:35:50and we'll find out the results later.
0:35:51 > 0:35:52But while that's happening,
0:35:52 > 0:35:56I'm off to find out more about the stories that started this argument.
0:35:56 > 0:35:59They first cropped up in America,
0:35:59 > 0:36:03but some reports say there could be implications for the NHS, too.
0:36:03 > 0:36:06One high-profile flossing critic in this country
0:36:06 > 0:36:08is Professor Damien Walmsley
0:36:08 > 0:36:12who's a scientific adviser for the British Dental Association.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15And he says those stories are right.
0:36:15 > 0:36:17Because, even though we've been flossing the decades,
0:36:17 > 0:36:21there's very little proof it actually does any good.
0:36:21 > 0:36:23So, Professor, in some of the press articles,
0:36:23 > 0:36:26you've been quoted as being quite critical of flossing.
0:36:26 > 0:36:27I mean, why is that?
0:36:27 > 0:36:29We don't have the clinical trials,
0:36:29 > 0:36:32the really rigid clinical trials around flossing
0:36:32 > 0:36:36to make categorical statements and say, "Yes, it is beneficial."
0:36:36 > 0:36:39So, we do have very good evidence about brushing your teeth.
0:36:39 > 0:36:41When we get down to flossing,
0:36:41 > 0:36:43we don't have the same amount of evidence.
0:36:43 > 0:36:47But the professor isn't saying we shouldn't clean between our teeth.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49The idea is a good one, because what you're trying to do
0:36:49 > 0:36:51is to disrupt the home of the bacteria.
0:36:51 > 0:36:53But there are other ways of cleaning.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56You do a routine of brushing your teeth for three minutes a day
0:36:56 > 0:36:59and brushing where the tooth comes away from the gum.
0:36:59 > 0:37:02You want to systematically remove the bacteria
0:37:02 > 0:37:05that are formed along the lines of the teeth.
0:37:05 > 0:37:07Now, some people need to get in between the teeth,
0:37:07 > 0:37:10especially if they've got all the teeth like this,
0:37:10 > 0:37:12- and there's these tight gaps. - Instead of floss,
0:37:12 > 0:37:15the professor says we could use interdental brushes like these.
0:37:15 > 0:37:18They're wider, so fill more of the gaps between our teeth
0:37:18 > 0:37:20and remove more bacteria.
0:37:20 > 0:37:23And if your teeth are really tightly packed,
0:37:23 > 0:37:25that's when floss could come in handy.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27Because cleaning between your teeth at all
0:37:27 > 0:37:29is better than never doing it.
0:37:29 > 0:37:33It's down to when you have that talk with your dentist or your hygienist.
0:37:33 > 0:37:35So, if you're having problems cleaning
0:37:35 > 0:37:38and you've got very, very tight contacts between your teeth,
0:37:38 > 0:37:41then, they may advocate, on top of all the tooth brushing you're doing,
0:37:41 > 0:37:43and the interdental, to do some flossing.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46So, the professor is wary of any report that says
0:37:46 > 0:37:48we should forget about flossing altogether.
0:37:48 > 0:37:53Which makes me feel better about the decades I've spent avidly flossing.
0:37:53 > 0:37:56But I'm not going to concede defeat from my trusty floss just yet,
0:37:56 > 0:38:00so I'm back to Salford with Dr Chloe to get the results of our test.
0:38:02 > 0:38:04Hi, guys.
0:38:05 > 0:38:09'We took samples from ten choir members, some who floss regularly,
0:38:09 > 0:38:13'some who floss occasionally and some who've never flossed.
0:38:13 > 0:38:16'If flossing is effective at reducing the amount of bacteria
0:38:16 > 0:38:19'in our mouths, then the samples from the non-flossers
0:38:19 > 0:38:22'will show more bacteria.'
0:38:22 > 0:38:24- So, are you ready to see the results? ALL:- Yes!
0:38:24 > 0:38:26Some had to be quarantined.
0:38:26 > 0:38:28LAUGHTER
0:38:28 > 0:38:30That's not true.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33'But the results were a bit of a surprise to Chloe.'
0:38:33 > 0:38:35So, it looks pretty spectacular,
0:38:35 > 0:38:37but what does this actually tell us?
0:38:37 > 0:38:40Overwhelmingly, hopefully, what you can see
0:38:40 > 0:38:43is there's not much difference between them.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45So, depending on whether you are a frequent flosser,
0:38:45 > 0:38:48or you don't floss at all, the level of bacteria
0:38:48 > 0:38:51that we're seeing from the floss there isn't very different.
0:38:53 > 0:38:56It might look like there's more bacteria on some slides,
0:38:56 > 0:38:58but Chloe says there's actually very little difference
0:38:58 > 0:39:01in the number of bacteria. They've just clumped together differently.
0:39:02 > 0:39:04So, even though our sample was small,
0:39:04 > 0:39:08the results seem to back up those scientific studies.
0:39:10 > 0:39:14So, looking at these, would you say there's any benefit in flossing?
0:39:14 > 0:39:17Looking at these results, it's very hard to see a benefit of flossing.
0:39:17 > 0:39:21But that doesn't mean there isn't a benefit of flossing.
0:39:21 > 0:39:23What you can see, OK, there's not a lot of difference,
0:39:23 > 0:39:26but you can see there's a lot of bacteria there.
0:39:26 > 0:39:28So, by that short amount of flossing,
0:39:28 > 0:39:33you were able to dislodge a lot of bacteria from between your teeth.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36Flossing can dislodge bacteria and food.
0:39:36 > 0:39:40Food, if staying between your teeth, gets digested by the bacteria
0:39:40 > 0:39:43and turned into acid, that can lead to tooth decay.
0:39:43 > 0:39:47So, the most bacteria that you can remove from your mouth, the better.
0:39:47 > 0:39:50So, in my opinion, flossing is still very important.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53But, as Professor Damien Walmsley told me earlier,
0:39:53 > 0:39:56flossing isn't the only way to get that bacteria
0:39:56 > 0:39:58from between our teeth.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02When we took the floss samples from the choir last week,
0:40:02 > 0:40:04we just asked them to floss on their upper jaw,
0:40:04 > 0:40:07and gave them interdental brushes for their lower jaws.
0:40:08 > 0:40:10It's much better, I'm enjoying this, yeah..
0:40:10 > 0:40:12Fab!
0:40:13 > 0:40:15When Chloe tested the brushes,
0:40:15 > 0:40:19she discovered they remove far more bacteria than flossing.
0:40:20 > 0:40:24You removed more bacteria and more food from between your teeth
0:40:24 > 0:40:25with the interdental brushes.
0:40:25 > 0:40:28On average, there were about ten times more bacterial cells
0:40:28 > 0:40:30than there were with the flossing.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33And you might expect that because they're bigger.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36So, if our flossers had used those interdental brushes instead,
0:40:36 > 0:40:39there could have been a big difference between them
0:40:39 > 0:40:42- and the non-users. - Would you say, then,
0:40:42 > 0:40:45from the differences between the floss and the interdental,
0:40:45 > 0:40:47there might be some advantages in using both?
0:40:47 > 0:40:53Yeah, absolutely. Dentists often suggest that you use both.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55One thing that they do have a look at
0:40:55 > 0:40:57is the architecture of your mouth.
0:40:57 > 0:41:00So, some people will have large gaps
0:41:00 > 0:41:02in between some of their teeth
0:41:02 > 0:41:06in which the flossing doesn't really do very much.
0:41:06 > 0:41:08Other people have very tightly packed teeth,
0:41:08 > 0:41:10and they're not going to get an interdental brush anywhere.
0:41:10 > 0:41:13And so, for those people, flossing's more important.
0:41:13 > 0:41:15Do any of you that don't floss,
0:41:15 > 0:41:18are you considering that you might pick up flossing now,
0:41:18 > 0:41:20after seeing those results?
0:41:20 > 0:41:22Not the flossing.
0:41:22 > 0:41:24Because, having experienced them both,
0:41:24 > 0:41:27the interdental brushes were a lot less unpleasant.
0:41:27 > 0:41:29So, how about you? What do you think?
0:41:29 > 0:41:31Well, I've always flossed regularly.
0:41:31 > 0:41:33Never been a fan of the interdental brushes,
0:41:33 > 0:41:35I've always found them really uncomfortable.
0:41:35 > 0:41:37But, I think, seeing these results,
0:41:37 > 0:41:40I definitely see the benefit of using them, and that'll be something
0:41:40 > 0:41:42I'll bring into my dental hygiene. Definitely.
0:41:42 > 0:41:46'So, while it might not be time to toss the floss just yet,
0:41:46 > 0:41:48'it is astonishing that the flossers' teeth
0:41:48 > 0:41:50'didn't have fewer bacteria
0:41:50 > 0:41:53'than those who have never flossed at all.'
0:41:54 > 0:41:55Thank you so much for your help.
0:41:55 > 0:41:57With amazing voices like that,
0:41:57 > 0:42:00I'm sure, whether you're a flosser or not,
0:42:00 > 0:42:02you will have happy teeth and gums.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05Any chance of a little chorus when I leave, though?
0:42:05 > 0:42:07- ALL:- Yes.
0:42:07 > 0:42:08Three, four.
0:42:08 > 0:42:20# Alleluia! #
0:42:24 > 0:42:27I think it was really reassuring to hear that,
0:42:27 > 0:42:29when it comes to almost all of the claims
0:42:29 > 0:42:31that are made about aspirin,
0:42:31 > 0:42:35- you really can believe what you read.- It is.
0:42:35 > 0:42:37If only the claims they made about aloe vera were true,
0:42:37 > 0:42:40- we'd have a couple of miracles on our hands, I think, Angela!- Yes!
0:42:40 > 0:42:42Unfortunately, though, that's where we have to leave it for today.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45But we'll be back very soon to debunk some more headlines.
0:42:45 > 0:42:49- But, until then, thank you very much for joining us. Bye-bye.- Bye-bye.