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Pfizer, makers of Listerine, have been claiming that the use of Listerine is just as effective as floss against plaque and gingivitis..

U.S. District Judge Denny Chin decided that Pfizer has been engaging in false advertising which could result in health risks for the public.

"Dentists and hygienists have been telling their patients for decades to floss daily," Chin wrote. "They have been doing so for good reason. The benefits of flossing are real-they are not a myth.' Pfizer's implicit message that Listerine can replace floss is false and misleading."

The judge's ruling is in response to a dental floss company's complaints about the ad. The company is McNeil-PPC who is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.

According to an article from CNN Money,

"In its lawsuit, McNeil claimed that Pfizer's advertisements falsely imply that Listerine is a replacement for floss -- that all the benefits of flossing could be obtained from Listerine.

The J&J unit also claimed that Pfizer's advertisement trumpeting clinical studies that prove the mouthwash's effectiveness against plaque and gingivitis is misleading."

What a shame...I was all set to give up flossing.

Chris is a staff writer for WebProNews. Visit WebProNews for the latest ebusiness news.