Flossing: The Importance of This Everyday Task

Maintaining your oral health doesn’t simply start and stop with brushing. While proper brushing is vital to keeping your teeth clean and your mouth fresh, bacteria has a way of hiding in the smallest, darkest areas of your mouth, away from even your brush. This is where flossing comes in. With daily flossing, you can track down the hiding bacteria and rid it from your mouth. Doing so goes a long way in preventing cavities and gum disease.

Protect Your Gums

Brushing your teeth only goes so far. The area between your teeth and around the gums is often difficult to clean with just a tooth brush. If you’ve ever had popcorn stuck under your gums or between your teeth, you know the feeling. Food particles can stick to this area of your mouth. If you fail to remove the food, it can lead to the development of bacteria, which affects your gums. Eventually, you’ll may suffer gingivitis and gum disease, all of which can be prevented by flossing at least once a day.

Save Money at the Dentist

Similar to the area around your gums, if you fail to remove food particles lodged between your teeth (often so small you can’t see or feel it), the sugars within the food will start to eat away at your teeth. This results can be not only a cavity, but an increase in your dentist bill the next time you go in for a visit. So to avoid spending hundreds or thousands more at the dentist, take a couple dollars and invest in floss.

Gums Are the Gateway to Other Disease

Did you know your gums are the gateway to all sorts of other disease? If you fail to floss and develop gum disease, the gums around your teeth begin to deteriorate and no longer have a tight grip around your teeth. This grants easy access to disease looking to infiltrate your body through the oral openings.

Conclusion

Flossing is something you need to do at least every day. Combining flossing with brushing your teeth is even better. By taking an extra minute or two of time, you’re mouth, and the rest of your body’s health, will thank you for it. So whether you’re a fan of traditional floss, or you find the newer dental flossers easier to use, it is essential to stay on top of daily, if not twice daily flossing. If you need any tips on best practices around flossing, or just need to schedule an cleaning, feel free to schedule an appointment.