Why You Shouldn't Consider Flossing An Optional Activity
Posted on: 3 April 2018
Flossing is not the easiest or more pleasurable thing to do, but it is something that dentists recommend doing every single day. Dentists recommend this because they know how important flossing is for good oral health, yet there are a lot of people that consider flossing an optional daily activity. Here are the top reasons you should floss each day and stop thinking that this is not an important step for your oral health.
It cleans hard-to-reach areas
Did you realize that your toothbrush has limits when it comes to cleaning your mouth? Your toothbrush can reach the front and backsides of your teeth, but it cannot reach the areas in between your teeth. Floss can, though. When you floss, you will be offering your mouth a more thorough cleaning, and this will help you fight off cavities and gum disease.
Flossing eliminates plaque that leads to gum disease
Plaque is an enemy of your teeth and gums; yet brushing alone does not remove the plaque that builds up on your gum lines and in between your teeth. Each time you floss, you will be scraping the plaque right off these areas. Without flossing, this plaque could end up getting underneath your gums, and this is what causes gum disease.
You'll fight bad breath
Bad breath is another result of not flossing. When you do not floss, small particles of food can get lodged between your teeth. In these particles, you will find bacteria, and this is what often causes bad breath. If you struggle with bad breath and currently do not floss, start flossing. Within a short amount of time, you may find that your breath is fresher simply because you are cleaning your mouth more thoroughly.
You can reduce your risks of developing cavities
Additionally, food left on the teeth may contain sugars. If so, the bacteria in your mouth will feed off these sugars, and this will result in the production of acids. Acids attack teeth and eat away at them, and this is what a cavity is. If you do not want to have cavities in your mouth, you should start flossing today.
To get the most out of flossing, start by doing it once each day. You can do this at any time of the day, but before bed is often a good time to do it. If you have questions about the health of your teeth, contact a dental clinic like Treman & Treman Family Dental Care.
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