As you may have heard from dentists, flossing is crucial for you to maintain good dental health. Still, the question remains: What exactly do you gain from it?
When it comes to practicing good dental health habits, the first thing that might come to your mind might be brushing your teeth. Of course, brushing your teeth plays a huge part in removing germs, but brushing alone is not enough. To care for your dental health, you need to take it one step further — by flossing.
Flossing is just as necessary as brushing. For some, flossing has become part of their daily routines. Unfortunately, this may not be the case for others. According to a 2018 Statistics Canada survey, only a third (37.5%) of Canadians brush their teeth twice daily and floss at least once a day.
If flossing does not play into your dental health care routine, you might not be fully aware of its multiple benefits. Knowing exactly what you can gain from flossing might be the perfect way to motivate you to start doing it daily.
What Does Your Dental Health Gain from Flossing?
Flossing can offer you and your mouth the following advantages:
Easier Removal of Food Particles
Just because you cannot see any food particles between your teeth does not necessarily mean your teeth are clean. As you eat your meal, your teeth do a great job of tearing your food down into more manageable and digestible pieces for your stomach. While most of what you eat goes down into your digestive system, some pieces can remain in your mouth. These pieces can get stuck between your teeth. If they are stuck there for a long time, they can cause gum inflammation and tooth decay.
Sure, you can use your toothbrush to help remove these food particles. However, there are some parts of your teeth that your toothbrush is unable to reach. To remove stuck food particles in your mouth and prevent the worst from happening, you can simply remove them from your teeth with the help of dental floss.
Prevent Bad Breath
Flossing your teeth also helps to reduce and prevent halitosis, more commonly known as bad breath. As we have mentioned, food particles that are stuck on your teeth can cause terrible dental diseases.
Unfortunately, it does not stop there. Whenever you are unable to remove these particles from your teeth, more bacteria will start to grow all over your mouth. These bacteria not only grow on your teeth, but also your tongue, and your gums. And as the bacteria grow, the foul odour also develops.
If you want to make sure that your teeth are clear of food particles and your breath does not smell, simply include flossing into your dental health care routine.
Reduces the Risk of Tooth Decay
Tooth decay happens when food containing sugars and starches is left on your teeth. Sugars and starches can be found in bread, milk, cakes, and soda, among other kinds of food. When the bacteria in your mouth start to consume these, they eventually turn into acids. These acids, combined with the saliva, bacteria, and food particles in your mouth, turn into plaque, a soft and sticky film that will constantly form on your teeth.
The plaque will produce more acids that will begin to destroy your tooth enamel. Once the acids erode the outer layer of teeth, holes will develop, resulting in tooth decay.
So how can flossing help with tooth decay? If done with proper brushing, flossing can prevent the buildup of plaque. Brushing removes bacteria and germs from the outer surfaces of teeth. However, your toothbrush has its limits and it can only clean the back and the front sides of your teeth properly. Flossing finishes what your toothbrush starts by properly cleaning the areas between your teeth.
Keep Gum Disease at Bay
Note that gum disease, also known as periodontitis, primarily affects your gums, but it does not stop there. It also affects the bone and soft tissue that support your teeth. If you have gum disease and do not have it treated, you are at risk of losing your teeth. See a dentist immediately to prevent further damage.
Gum disease occurs when the bacteria on your teeth have been left to multiply unimpeded. The plaque buildup weakens the tissue surrounding the teeth. This causes gums to pull away, revealing the sensitive root surfaces underneath and resulting in the formation of spaces. These newly formed gaps between your gums and teeth can easily become infected.
While the plaque continues to spread below your gums, your immune system begins to react to it. It fights off the plaque and bacteria by producing toxins. While its main target is the bacteria, these toxins can often attack indiscriminately, damaging the bone and soft tissue that holds your teeth. At this point, your teeth lose their support; they may become loose and even fall off.
How can your dental floss help you avoid this dental problem? It’s simple. As flossing removes food particles, it slows down or halts the accumulation of plaque and keeps bacteria from multiplying at rapid rates and worsening.
Flossing is just as important as brushing your teeth. It ensures the removal of any food particles stuck in your teeth, improves your breath, and removes the formation of plaque.
You might consider this as an extra step to your normal daily routine. However, that step is a necessary one that can help you prevent dental diseases. Floss properly and as thoroughly as you can. It might take time for you to do so at first, but you will only get better the more times you practice it.
If you have any concerns or questions regarding your teeth and gums, contact us
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or (905) 458-1212.
