So, Why Do We Floss?

You know that you should be flossing every day, but do you really know why? Daily flossing is a key part of oral hygiene, so here’s why you should always floss.

1. Prevent Gum Disease

An estimated one in every eight Americans suffers from gum disease, which is painful and causes other oral health problems. Flossing is the best way to prevent gum disease from developing, because it removes all the bacteria and plaque from your teeth. When your gums are clean and healthy, you won’t get gingivitis.

2. Remove Plaque

Plaque hardens in as little as two days, and once it’s hard, it’s best removed by a dentist. Daily flossing will remove the small bits of plaque before they bond with teeth, keeping your mouth healthy.

If you already have gum disease or plaque buildup, flossing can’t do much to help you. Your best course of action is to see our dentist, so we can treat your plaque or gingivitis, and then build your flossing routine.

3. Prevent Cavities

Every action you do to take care of your teeth prevents cavities from developing. Cavities are painful, even if tactics like sedation dentistry make treatment easier to bear. Flossing keeps those hard to reach areas between teeth clean, reducing the likelihood of cavity development.

4. Prepare for a Healthy Pregnancy

Pregnant women have an extra reason they should be proactive about flossing. This simple action is one way to prepare for a healthy pregnancy. If you skip flossing while expecting, your rates of premature labor and a low birth weight increase.

5. Protect Full Body Wellness

Studies have proved that certain health conditions — which include diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory disease — are linked to gum disease. Since flossing keeps your gums healthy, it also reduces your odds of developing these conditions. If you’re already suffering from one of these health conditions, better dental care can improve your symptoms.

6. Reduce Gum Bleeding

If you’re turned off from flossing because you tend to bleed, well, that could be a sign that you actually need to floss. The bleeding happens because you have bacteria along the gum line. Your body reacts to the bacteria by sending blood cells to counter-attack. When the bacteria is gone due to daily flossing, so is the blood.

7. Save Money

Given all the ways that flossing benefits your overall health, it should be easy to understand that flossing saves you money by preventing additional medical care. Floss is far less expensive than your share of dental insurance payments for treatment of gum disease or cavities. It’s cheaper than paying for diabetes care and treatment of other diseases.

Get Dental Care in Tampa

Do you need a refresher on flossing techniques? Or are you concerned you may have gum disease already? Our husband and wife dentist team can give you a thorough cleaning and show you the best way to floss. Reserve your appointment online or call us today: 813-501-6864.