It’s no secret that flossing is important – but just how important is it? In this blog post, we look at the benefits of flossing, the diseases that can stem from not flossing, and the proper way to floss. By this post’s end, you’ll better understand why flossing is essential to your oral health!
Benefits of Flossing
Flossing is one of the most important things you can do for your oral health. It helps remove plaque and bacteria from between your teeth and gums, where a toothbrush can’t reach. This can help reduce your risk of cavities, gingivitis, and other dental diseases.
In addition to keeping your teeth healthy, flossing can also improve your overall health. Bacteria that build up in your mouth can enter your bloodstream and cause health problems elsewhere in your body. Flossing can help reduce this risk.
Flossing is essential for maintaining good oral health. It helps remove plaque and bacteria between your teeth and gums, which can help reduce your risk of cavities, gingivitis, and other dental diseases. In addition to promoting oral health, flossing can also improve your overall health by reducing the amount of bacteria in your mouth.
Diseases From Improper or No Flossing
If you don’t floss, you’re at risk of developing a variety of dental diseases, including cavities, gingivitis, and periodontitis.
Cavities
Cavities are caused by bacteria that produce acids that eat away at your teeth. If plaque isn’t removed regularly with brushing and flossing, it can harden into tartar, which is much harder to remove. Cavities can lead to tooth decay and even tooth loss.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums. It can cause redness and swelling, bleeding when you brush or floss, bad breath, and tenderness or soreness in the gums. Gingivitis is reversible if caught early, but if left untreated, it can progress to periodontitis.
Periodontitis
Periodontitis is a serious gum disease that can lead to tooth loss. It occurs when gingivitis is left untreated and the bacteria spread below the gum line, where they attack the soft tissue and bone that support your teeth.
If you don’t floss, you could be at risk of developing bad breath. Bacteria that builds up in your mouth can cause bad breath; if it isn’t removed regularly with brushing and flossing, it can get worse. So make sure to floss regularly to keep your breath smelling fresh!
Proper Way To Floss
Flossing is essential to oral care, but it can be tricky to do properly. Here are a few tips on how to floss correctly:
Use about 18 inches of floss, wrap it around your middle fingers, and hold it tightly between your thumbs and fingers.
Gently guide the floss between your teeth using a back-and-forth motion. Don’t forget to floss the backs of your teeth!
Curve the floss around the base of each tooth and use a gentle up-and-down motion to remove plaque and bacteria.
Spit after each tooth. Don’t swallow the bacteria!
Flossing can be a bit awkward at first, but you’ll get the hang of it with practice. Just make sure to be gentle and go slowly. You also only need to floss once a day.
It is also a misconception that you should floss after brushing your teeth. It helps improve your dental health if you floss before brushing. This way, you can more easily remove bacteria and food particles from your teeth because you will loosen them and then brush them away.
For all of your dentistry needs and questions contact Mi Casa Family Dentistry at (512) 270-2623! Your home for dental care in Austin, TX.