Most dental professionals sound like a broken record, reiterating the importance of flossing over and over again. We tell our patients to floss more, but typically, our advice falls on deaf ears. The truth is, dentists don’t like to nag their clients. We just want healthy gums and beautiful smiles on all our patients and flossing can make that possible.
Children despise flossing as it seems like such a huge task. As adults we begin to understand the importance of it but are often attracted towards the warm cocoon of our beds, beckoning us to its warm embrace. Most people don’t even thing that flossing has any huge impact on our dental health and they often prefer brushing over flossing any day.
Although brushing your teeth is paramount to gum and teeth health, flossing in addition to that is crucial. Brushing might clean the back and front of your teeth, but through flossing you will be able to get rid of ay debris or food particle stuck between your teeth. This regions between your teeth is called Inter-proximal region and can only be reached by dental floss.
No matter what your toothbrush company claims or how intricate the bristle head design is, it will never reach between your teeth. Therefore, if you claim to be a dental health superstar, if you are not flossing, you are not completely cleaning your teeth. Think about months or even years of food particles stuck between your teeth (ew!).
Here are some dental problems that you can avoid if you floss regularly.
Decaying Tooth
The plaque, which is filed with micro-organisms on the front and back of our teeth, can also accumulate between the teeth. This build-up is filed with teeth harming bacteria that can harm the foundations of your teeth and cause tooth decay if the impurities are not cleaned regularly.
Bad Breath
The bacteria which accumulate between your teeth can eventually lead to bad smelling breath. Even if you use mouthwashes and brush your teeth regularly, you can still experience bad breath due to the impurities stuck between your teeth. Not flossing is the reason.
Buildup of Tartar
The plaque can harden into a substance called tartar, which is much harder to remove at home through brushing, or even professionally. This can lead to serious gum diseases. However, flossing can prevent the accumulation and development of tartar. If you currently have tartar, a professional can help remove it by scaling and cleaning your teeth.
Other Health Concerns
If you think that not flossing will only be bad for your mouth, think again! Poor or inconsistence dental hygiene can be the precursor for major health concerns such as heart diseases and can also aggravate the symptoms of diabetes. Remember, you mouth is the entry point for all things that you consume. If you fail to keep your teeth and mouth healthy by brushing and flossing daily, then you are inadverently allowing the bacteria, viruses and other germs to enter your system and cause diseases.
If you want a reminder on how to floss your teeth, ask our dental experts at you next visit. For an appointment, contact us today and learn how you can keep your teeth healthy and in the best shape.