Sciota, Pennsylvania
Flossing takes just a couple minutes out of a 24-hour day, but many people find that they skip this step in their oral hygiene regime. After all, if you’re brushing your teeth as the dentist recommends, what’s the point of flossing?
Our family dentist in Sciota is here to tell you that flossing is a critical component of a strong oral hygiene regime.
Today, we’re looking at a few reasons why:
Why does flossing matter?
Floss reaches places a toothbrush can’t — namely, between the teeth. Without flossing, food and sugar can get trapped between the teeth. This makes the perfect feast for naturally-occurring bacteria in the mouth that mixes with saliva to stick to the teeth as plaque. Well-fed plaque turns into tartar, and now you have the perfect beginnings of a cavity. Sometimes brushing doesn’t reach food particles lodged between the teeth, so flossing is one very simple part of an oral hygiene routine that can stand between a person and tooth decay.
Now that you know how flossing works against plaque and cavities, let’s look at some other dental issues that flossing fights against:
Bad breath
Food trapped between teeth harbors the harmful bacteria that feed plaque on and between the teeth. The bacteria smells awful, leading to terribly foul breath, also called halitosis. Flossing dislodges all the food trapped between the teeth, preventing bad breath by removing the bacteria and what it’s been feeding on.
Gum disease
The majority of American adults will have some level of gum disease at some point in their lives, and gum disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss. People who have gingivitis (the mildest form of gum disease) can usually correct the condition with regular brushing and flossing. This prevents gum disease from progressing and turning into the most severe form: periodontitis.
Family dentist in Sciota, PA
Flossing can save money and time spent in your dentist’s chair, and it can also, quite literally, save your teeth. When you’re brushing your teeth at night, don’t forget to take a couple minutes to floss. Create the habit, and your teeth and mouth will thank you by staying clean and healthy and trouble-free. If you have any questions about flossing, or if it’s time for your twice-annual checkup with our family dentist, call us at Quiet Valley Dental, (570) 865-7850, or reach us online to schedule an appointment today.
