Question: I brush my teeth twice a day, for two minutes each time just as directed by my dentist. I use a high-quality toothpaste and a good toothbrush. Do I really need to floss?
If you’re a regular at the dentist’s office, going in twice a year for your cleanings, you’ve been told many times that flossing is essential in maintaining good oral health. We’re not just telling you this out of habit – flossing is the best way to guarantee that you are getting all of the debris and food particles from between your teeth. It’s a necessary part of good dental hygiene along with twice-daily brushing.
Even as you are reading this, bacteria are building up between your teeth. When you go long durations without flossing, these bacteria are able to colonize and create a film of bacteria that forms on the sides of your teeth and gums. Your mouth sees this film as an invasion, and therefore tries to fight it off. This inflammatory response leads to an eating away of the collagen and fibers that connect the teeth to the body. These essential fibers are the foundation of how the teeth connect to the body – when when they are destroyed, teeth can become loose and fall out.
It’s important to floss to keep bacteria at bay and stop further damage to your mouth health, and your overall health. Chronic inflammatory responses in the mouth can lead to bigger problems like heart disease.
If you’re not flossing regularly, now is the time to start! Get yourself a floss that you like (flosses come in different textures, thicknesses and flavors) and make flossing at least once a day a new habit in your oral hygiene routine. Your mouth will thank you!
Have more questions about flossing? Contact the professionals at DentaLux today!
Photo Credit: Yogma.