Are you flossing every day? Many people dread hearing this question from their dentist because they know they’re not flossing as often as they should be. Of course, the consequences of not flossing are a bit more serious than just getting a stern lecture at your dental appointment every six months. In fact, there are quite a few reasons why you should be flossing every day. Here are some of the most important reasons, courtesy of the friendly staff at ZDental.
Flossing Prevents Plaque Buildup between the Teeth
Even if you brush twice a day and use mouthwash, there will still be some areas that don’t get completely clean. We’re talking about the interdental spaces, or the areas between your teeth. Brushing can only clean exposed tooth surfaces, and while mouthwash is an important part of your oral health regimen, it’s not strong enough to remove sticky plaque between your teeth. As you probably know, plaque buildup can lead to gingivitis and even full-blown gum disease, so thoroughly removing it should be a top priority and physically removing plaque using floss is the only way to ensure it’s completely gone.
Flossing Makes Your Gums Less Likely to Bleed When You Brush
Lots of people don’t like to floss because it makes their gums bleed. If your gums bleed when you floss or brush, it’s a sign that something is wrong. You see, when bacteria gather around the gum line, your body sends white blood cells there to fight them and prevent them from infecting the area around the roots of your teeth. If your gums are prone to bleeding, it may be because you’re leaving too many bacteria behind when you brush. Flossing every day will remove those bacteria, and over time, you’ll notice your gums bleed less or not at all.
Flossing Helps to Prevent Gingivitis and Gum Disease
As we mentioned earlier, plaque buildup around the gum line can lead to gingivitis and gum disease if it’s not removed. You may think gum disease is no big deal but in addition to causing tooth loss it’s actually been linked to a number of potentially fatal health problems including cardiovascular disease, dementia, respiratory infections, diabetes, kidney disease, and even cancer. And that’s just a short list. Spending a minute or two every day flossing your teeth is a small price to pay for preventing so many deadly diseases and disorders, so do yourself a favor and pick up that floss every morning.
At ZDental, we want your teeth and gums to be in the best shape they can be so you can live a full, healthy life. We don’t tell you these things to scare you but we do want you to know that preventing gum disease is serious business. Brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and using a mouthwash containing fluoride are all simple steps you can take to improve the health of your gums and teeth over time, so don’t skip them. Pick up that floss today and maybe the next time you visit the dentist, you’ll be able to say you do floss every day (without having to lie).
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