Flossing gets a bad rap. It is just as important as brushing, offers a wide range of benefits and most dentists regard it as essential. Yet why do we not view it the same way as brushing?
We think it’s partly because of the awkwardness of operation. When you brush your teeth, you have a relatively easy time of it, especially if you use an electric toothbrush. Flossing is a little uncomfortable and takes a bit of practice to get right. Whatever the obstacle to flossing, it is still something everyone should prioritize for a healthy mouth.
Here are the top 5 reasons why you should floss.
Helps Prevent Gum Disease
While brushing your teeth is essential, it only covers around 25-30% of your tooth surface. Flossing gets into those areas your brush cannot reach, providing essential cleaning to prevent gum disease.
Bacteria accelerate gum disease on food scraps caught in your teeth. It produces acid as a by-product, which in turn forms plaque. This attacks teeth enamel and inflames the gums, causing gum disease. It is one of the most common ailments most dentists have to treat.
Helps Prevent Tooth Decay
In the same way flossing helps prevent gum disease, it can do the same to prevent tooth decay. By removing stubborn food scraps from awkward spaces, the bacteria in your mouth has less to feed on, meaning less plaque and less acid erosion.
Helps Prevent Bad Breath
With no food scraps and no excess bacteria in your mouth, there is less chance of bad breath. There are a lot of social reasons why you don’t want bad breath, and your dentist can tell you about the medical reasons, too, if you ask.
Helps Prevent Heart Disease
While the specifics of the link between your oral health and heart disease are still being hammered out, we know there is one. The healthier your mouth, the less likely you will be to suffer any related heart disease.
Helps Your Smile
Ask any dentist, the size and strength of someone’s smile is directly related to how confident they are about their oral health. The cleaner your mouth feels, the wider your smile. Not very scientific and more anecdotal than proven fact, but experience has taught us this is true.
As dentists, we think those are the 5 most important reasons to floss. It keeps your mouth clear of food, free from excess bacteria and as healthy as it can be. If you need more reasons than that, visit your local dentists clinic right away!
