Do you remember to floss only when you have a piece of food stuck in your teeth? The sad truth is that many patients follow this trend and underestimate just how important flossing is for maintaining a healthy smile!
According to research from the Delta Dental Oral Health and Well-Being Survey, Americans have significant shortcomings in oral health habits. Researchers found that nearly 30% of adults in the U.S don’t brush their teeth twice a day, as recommended by the American Dental Association.
Habits regarding flossing are even more troubling. The survey found that only 4 out of 10 Americans floss at least once per day and 20% admit to never flossing at all. So, why should we care about flossing each day? Flossing is an essential preventative measure and can benefit patients in a number of ways.
5 Benefits of Flossing Each Day
Here at Gentle Dental, we encourage all of our patients to make flossing a priority. While it can be slightly more time-consuming, flossing can also provide a variety of benefits.
Some of the most notable benefits of flossing each day include:
Lower Risk of Gum Disease: When bacteria and food particles accumulate between teeth and along the gumline, the gums will become irritated and inflamed. This is just the first sign of gum disease, also known as gingivitis. Flossing each day removes harmful bacteria and food debris from these hard-to-reach areas and helps prevent gum disease.
Lower Risk of Tooth Decay: Excess bacteria in the mouth can also contribute to tooth decay, which can eventually lead to tooth loss if it’s not treated in a timely manner. Routine flossing will remove bacteria and reduce your risk of tooth decay.
Brighter Smile: When plaque isn’t removed, it will eventually harden into tartar. Tartar isn’t just dangerous to your dental health, it also hinders the look of your smile since it appears brown or yellow on your teeth. Flossing each day is important because it removes plaque before it hardens into tartar and keeps your smile bright.
Save Money: Investing in a few minutes to floss will end up saving you money in the long-run. Flossing each day reduces your likelihood of developing gum disease and cavities, which can often require costly treatment. In the end, spending a few dollars on a pack of floss will save you from spending a few hundred dollars for a filling.
Benefit Overall Health: More and more research is finding that oral health is closely linked to overall health. For example, researchers have found that gum disease is also linked to heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. Taking the time to floss every day can end up translating to better overall health as well.
Contact Gentle Dental
Do you have additional questions about oral care or your dental health? We’re here to help!
Contact our office today to learn more about our services and schedule your next appointment with Dr. Scott Anderson.