When it comes to home oral health habits, many people regard flossing as an optional addition to brushing. While it is an addition to brushing – as in both cleaning methods are complementary – it is not exactly optional. On the contrary, most dentists would recommend that you floss daily in addition to brushing twice daily. Here are five reasons why you should backup your daily brushing routine with flossing.
Preventative Oral Care
Millions of bacteria and other germs can be found in your oral cavity. No matter how well you look after your teeth, there is always that danger of bacteria and microorganisms getting trapped in between your teeth, particularly if you do not look after them by watching your diet and practicing proper oral care hygiene habits like brushing and flossing.
When done properly, flossing helps to remove food debris and bacteria from the areas that brushing cannot access, thereby preventing bacteria from building up micro-organic colonies in these areas. Regular flossing also disrupts the bacteria from turning into plaque, which is a sticky coating of yellowish substance that stains and damages your teeth over time. Together, daily brushing and flossing forms the bedrock of at-home preventative oral care.
Prevents Tartar Build-Up
It doesn’t take long for plaque to accumulate on your teeth. When plaque is left unremoved, it can harden into tartar. Daily flossing will help to remove plaque from between your teeth and prevent tartar formation at the gum line.
Prevents Bad Breath
Food debris trapped in between teeth and in the gum line may contain bacteria that cause an unpleasant odour. Daily flossing can help to remove the smelly odour from your mouth, while keeping your breath fresh and teeth free from unsightly food particles.
More Effective Than Brushing Alone
Brushing and flossing work in unison to preserve your dental wellbeing. If you only brush your teeth but do not floss, it is akin to washing the outside of your drinking glass but neglecting the inside walls. In fact, up to 35% of your teeth’s surfaces remain uncleaned when you only brush and neglect flossing. That’s because the bristles of your toothbrush can only reach so far. Unlike the toothbrush, the dental floss is able to effectively dislodge food and bacteria that gets trapped in the tight spaces between your teeth and gums.
Prevents Gum Disease
Unfortunately, plaque doesn’t just stain your teeth or look unsightly. When you don’t look after your teeth, you are effectively allowing plaque to build up which can lead to gum disease. Gum disease refers to inflammation and infection of the gums. When plaque slowly eats away and erodes your soft gum tissue, it causes what is known as periodontal disease. An advanced form of periodontal disease, referred to as periodontitis, can result in extreme decay and root canal issues. An effective deterrence to plaque build-up is to remove the bacteria at the base of the teeth – the most vulnerable point of the gums – through flossing.
At Face Value Dental, we offer a range of preventative care services. If you’re interested in jumpstarting an effective oral care maintenance program, please contact us on (07 3221 0677 or visit our web page https://www.facevaluedental.com for more information.