Whether you realize it or not, only 40% of Americans floss at least once a day?
Shocking, right?
What’s even more unsettling to Vibrant Dentistry, however, is that two out of ten people never floss at all. Having said that, this same study notes that people who flossed on a daily basis as part of their oral routine reported better oral health than those who did not. This is because when you fail to floss, you fail to clean 40 percent of your teeth.
Unfortunately, toothbrushes are unable to reach the sides or deeper pockets of your teeth and gums. Thus, flossing is absolutely necessary if you want to maintain a strong oral care regimen. Let’s take a look at four reasons why flossing is good for you.
FLOSS REMOVES PLAQUE
You should know that dental plaque doesn’t just accumulate on the obvious surface areas of your teeth. It can, of course, appear anywhere inside your mouth, including your gums and sides of your teeth. Even if you use an electric toothbrush, the bristles aren’t thin enough to reach into the deep areas you need to hit; the only floss can.
Furthermore, having food caught in your teeth is extremely irritating. What’s even worse is looking in the mirror and realizing that nobody told you about that piece of chicken or lettuce from the salad you ate earlier. Food debris actually serves as a breeding ground for bacteria, so removing it will greatly improve your oral health.
YOUR GUMS WILL STOP BLEEDING
If you’ve been to your dentist for a routine cleaning recently and you didn’t floss beforehand, you probably tasted blood as your dentist started performing your deep cleaning treatment. While flossing at home doesn’t compare to treatment in a dental office, your gums will still bleed easily if you avoid flossing for too long. The best way to reduce your risk of inflammation and bleeding caused by gingivitis is to floss at least once a day.
YOU’LL KEEP YOUR TEETH STRONG
When plaque sits on tooth enamel for extensive periods of time, it’s going to eventually wear it down. To maintain an effective oral care routine, you need to clean all of your mouth, not just the areas that appear when you smile. The missing plaque will put your tooth’s entire structure at risk but remove it will reduce decay and keep your protected.
IT’S AN IMPROVEMENT FOR YOUR OVERALL HEALTH
Periodontal (gum) disease has been heavily linked to many more serious illnesses, including heart disease and stroke. If you have gum disease, the barrier between your mouth and the rest of your body diminishes, which means oral bacteria can reach other parts of your body through your bloodstream. Flossing helps you keep this barrier intact and is a positive step in the right direction if you want to reduce your risk of the aforementioned diseases.
Without regularly flossing, you really can’t call your oral care routine complete. Schedule a visit with Vibrant Dentistry to learn about more tips on how to make including flossing in your routine so much easier.
