Home Oral Health What Are the Four Benefits of Flossing?

What Are the Four Benefits of Flossing?

by adminjay


How often do you floss? Is it necessary? How does it benefit your mouth? Flossing is one of those things we are told to do, and we know we probably should, but often we put it in an optional category. The truth is flossing has enormous benefits and should be done every day. It can do things toothbrushes can’t and is a very important part of oral health.

Why Brushing Your Teeth Is Not Enough

Brushing your teeth is obviously very important. It is the first line of defense against cavities and a daily habit that helps keep our mouths clean and healthy. However, a toothbrush cannot remove all the food and bacteria that can get trapped between your teeth. Flossing can get into areas that a toothbrush cannot and remove bacteria before it turns into plaque. Thankfully, when you prevent plaque buildup, you are stopping the cycle of plaque turning into tartar. Tartar is a hard and crusty substance that gets stuck on the teeth. Tartar needs removing by a dentist or hygienist, so preventing this from happening has fantastic benefits.

Flossing for Fresh Breath

We all want fresh breath and know that uncomfortable feeling when it’s not at its best. What we might not know though is how flossing helps keep our breath fresher. When bacteria is trapped between our teeth, there is a risk of it smelling. Removing the bacteria means removing potential odor. The simple act of flossing daily can help keep your breath fresher and your mouth healthier. It’s a tiny act, with huge rewards.

Flossing Fights Gum Disease

We talked about plaque prevention, but what does plaque actually do? At a surface level plaque can stain the teeth which isn’t very pleasant. On a deeper level it can build up and cause permanent damage. When plaque and tartar are not removed, the bacteria can cause gum disease. Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease which causes the gums to become inflamed. The gums will appear red and swollen and can bleed easily. This can be reversed with good oral hygiene. Proper brushing, flossing, rinsing, and regular dental checkups will make the gums healthy and happy again. If gingivitis is not dealt with, it can turn into periodontitis, which requires dental intervention. Periodontitis is when the gums around the tooth get inflamed and pull away. This causes pockets, and these pockets then become infected. The bacteria spreading beneath the gum line can cause bone loss, and eventually the tooth can become loose and need removing. While flossing might seem unnecessary, it can help save your teeth.

Flossing Helps Keep You Healthy

We know it helps keep your mouth healthy, but it does even more. Flossing helps prevent heart disease. The link between oral health and heart health still needs more research, but there is a lot of information worth reading to learn about the connection. This is definitely something to consider if you are struggling with motivation to floss.

Adding Flossing to Your Routine

If you are ready to floss, you may have questions about the proper way to do this. You will want to hold the floss tightly between your thumb and index finger and place it between your teeth in a C shape. You will then ease the floss up and down away from the gum line, and move on to the next tooth. For each new tooth, make sure you use a clean section of floss, and throw it out when you are finished. You are now ready to floss each day, enjoy healthier teeth and gums, and fresher breath!





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