Since you were very young, you have been told that you need to floss every single day in order to keep your oral health in optimal shape. Floss shouldn’t be save just for those occasions where you have popcorn or beef stuck in your teeth. It is important that you take the time to floss for a number of different reasons. Continue reading to learn more from your dentist about why flossing is important.
Remove Plaque
Plaque is the sticky, soft substance that builds up on the surface of your teeth. To remove this, you need to brush and floss. If you don’t, this will eventually harden into tartar which can build up along the gumline and result in tooth decay and periodontal disease. It is impossible to avoid plaque entirely, but you can limit it by brushing and flossing to the point where it doesn’t cause you any further issues.
Keeps Your Teeth White
You don’t want your pearly whites to be anything other than white. When you have buildups of plaque and tartar between the teeth, they can cause your teeth to appear more discolored. If you want to use teeth whitening treatments, they work the best on teeth that are free of plaque. If you still have some of this substance stuck between your teeth, you won’t be getting the whitening results that you’re looking for after whitening treatment. When you floss, you can allow the whitening agent to make more contact with different surfaces of your teeth, ultimately allowing you to have a more uniform, brighter smile!
Prevents Gum Disease
When you don’t remove plaque and tartar from the gumline, you can experience serious oral health issues. It will irritate your gums and lead to gingivitis. Symptoms of this condition include inflammation, irritation, and bleeding during or after brushing. The good news is that gingivitis is reversible. However, if you leave it to progress, you could develop a later stage of the disease known as periodontitis. This causes gum recession, loose teeth, tooth loss, and bone loss.
Freshens Your Breath
No one likes to wake up with bad breath. If you don’t remove food debris and plaque from between your teeth and beneath the gumline with floss, the bacteria in your mouth will continue to linger and multiply. In addition to gum disease and tooth decay, you can expect some bad breath.
Flossing is an important step for your oral hygiene. Be sure to keep a container by your sink so that you don’t forget to floss before bedtime. This way, you can prevent oral health issues and keep your smile in excellent shape!
About the Practice
At Advanced Smile Design, there are two skilled dentists providing quality care to patients in the Willow Grove area. Dr. Krunal Patel attended Pacific Dental College & Hospital in India before moving to the USA and earning his dental doctorate from the New York University College of Dentistry. Dr. Barry Isdaner has been practicing over 45 years. To learn more about proper oral hygiene or to schedule an appointment, visit their website or call (215) 659-3334.
