Twice a year you come to Academy Dental Care and visit our dentists for a checkup, cleaning, and likely, a lesson about the importance of flossing your teeth! Maybe you begin to floss for a day or two, but if you’re like most, all that floss talk goes in one ear and out the other. We’re dedicated to care and dental services of the highest quality so that you can live a healthy life, with a healthy smile, and believe flossing is an essential part of this!
Floss is an interdental cleaner and is specifically designed to get into the tight areas between teeth and teeth and gums. Many non-flossers are unaware that while brushing cleans majority of a tooth’s surface, it misses the remaining parts that only flossing can target. Furthermore, many fail to realize the key role flossing plays not only in our oral health, but overall health; helping prevent many serious and life threatening diseases. Still not convinced you need to floss? Here are 5 reasons why Academy Dental Care suggests you shouldn’t skip this important step!
1. Brushing Isn’t Enough: Flossing and Brushing Are More Effective
Using its soft bristles, brushing removes plaque on the tops and outer surfaces of teeth but fails to clean the remaining 40% of a tooth’s surface that only floss can reach. Plaque acts quickly and skipping a few days of flossing allows for bacteria to solidify, harden, and firmly stick in between teeth. For the most effective routine, floss before brushing!
2. Prevents Tartar Buildup
Tartar is a hard buildup of plaque that sticks to the edges of the gum line. It can only be removed by a dental professional by a process of them scraping it off your teeth! Luckily, we have a powerful tool that aids against tartar and its effects – flossing! Flossing in between teeth allows you to remove tartar while it’s still in its early, soft, and sticky form! If you’re a regular flosser, you’re most likely to avoid tartar buildup, since it only hardens after being left undisturbed for a period of time.
3. Protects Gums
Claiming you can’t floss because it makes your gums bleed is NOT an excuse! If bacteria is left to rest on your gum line, your body naturally responds by sending blood to this area to fight the infection. If you floss, this bacteria is removed and reduces the occurrence of bleeding gums. Being that tiny food particles often get lodged into the area where the gums and teeth meet, if tartar is left to fester it may eventually turn into gingivitis; swollen, red gums that eventually lead to serious forms of gum disease such as periodontitis.
4. Keeps the Rest of Your Body Healthy
For those who do develop gum diseases, they are more susceptible to developing more serious diseases throughout the body. An extensive amount of research shows a strong correlation of an unhealthy mouth leading to diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory illness. With the simple, quick act of flossing daily, you can help prevent these serious diseases that have major life-long effects that could be life-threatening.
5. Makes Visits to the Dentist Easier
Taking steps to take care of and improve your oral health can make dental visits easier and in turn, helps you save your natural teeth and protect your dental investments. When unexpected dental emergencies happen, they can cost 10 times more than that of a regular check up and with healthcare costs at an all time high, it’s important to do all you can to prevent this from happening. Brushing twice and flossing once daily can help maintain your oral health and overall health!
At Academy Dental Care, we believe that good oral health not only makes for a beautiful, healthy smile but a healthier you! Trust our renowned dental specialists for cleanings, check ups, and tips on flossing by calling (505) 828-2020!