Posted on July 26, 2018
At most dental appointments, you’re asked, “How often do you floss?”
Do you start to panic when your dentist asks you? And if so, is it because you know you don’t floss often enough?
Although your dentist cares about your oral hygiene, if you are not flossing regularly, you are only hurting yourself. Here are four of the most important reasons why you should ensure that you’re flossing regularly, starting today!
1. Flossing Improves the Appearance of Your Teeth
As the first feature that someone notices about you, your teeth are important.
By removing any excess food particles or plaque, flossing helps keep your teeth bright, helping you to create a great first impression.
2. Flossing Helps Your Gums
You may have expert tooth brushing skills and be committed to twice-daily brushing. However, without flossing, unhealthy gums, gingivitis and gum disease can occur since approximately 40% of the cleaning is done by flossing.
Tooth loss is also a potential effect of poor hygiene habits. Avoid the pain of tooth loss, as well as costly treatments, by practicing great oral hygiene every day.
3. Flossing Helps Keep Your Body Healthy
Practicing good oral hygiene helps with your overall health too!
By providing an opportunity to check your mouth for swelling and redness, flossing can help identify certain medical conditions like cancer.
Not taking caring of your teeth – including infrequent or lack of flossing – can increase your risk of heart disease and can affect your cardiovascular system, too.
Plus, mouth infections (like any infections) can increase inflammatory substance blood levels. This can lead to an increase in blood clots, slowing the flow of blood to the heart.
4. Flossing Prevents Extra Dental Expenses
Flossing your teeth is like completing regular maintenance on your car – the more you do, the more money it will save you in the long run.
Since flossing helps prevent plaque buildup, unhealthy gums and more, more serious dental problems are avoided. This means less time spent at the dentist office, meaning more money in your pocket.
Floss Effectively Every. Single. Day.
Although flossing is recommended at least once a day to remove any excess food particles or plaque, it can be difficult if you find flossing painful. Ask your dentist about flossing products that can make the task easier and painless.
If you have a certain dental condition, there are specialized flossing options for you, including:
- Soft floss that slides comfortably between sensitive teeth
- Specialized flossing tools to help floss when you wear a dental appliance
- Electric flossers that keep flossing neat, easy and painless
Start Flossing at a Young Age
The younger you are when you start a habit, the more likely you are to continue it as an adult.
The same goes for flossing. Begin teaching your children to floss between the ages of five and seven.
Ensure you’re acting as a positive role model to your child by flossing regularly yourself!
Practice Flossing Daily. Enjoy Good Oral Hygiene for Life!
No matter your age, it’s important that you are following a proper oral care routine, including daily flossing.
By helping to prevent future dental problems, flossing ensures that you will have a healthy, beautiful smile for your entire life. Ask your dentist today for more flossing tips!