Ask a General Dentist: What Are the Benefits of Flossing Regularly?

Our general dentist recommends flossing at least once per day to protect your teeth against gum disease and tooth decay. Having good brushing habits is not enough to keep your teeth healthy. The bristles of a toothbrush cannot properly clean the tight spaces between teeth. As a result, plaque and tartar can build up between these spaces, damaging teeth structures and infecting gum tissues.

Our general dentist explores the benefits of brushing regularly

Let us take a closer look at a few of the reasons that our general dentist recommends flossing the teeth at least once daily.

1. Protects against tooth decay

Flossing teeth gets rid of plaque build-up on them. Plaque is the sticky film that builds up in the mouth after meals. It creates a sticky feeling in the mouth in the morning or after a nap.

Plaque houses bacteria, and it hardens into tartar when left on teeth for a few days. At that point, teeth cleaning performed by a dentist is required to get rid of it. Tartar also contains bacteria and acids that break down teeth structures. Excess plaque build-up on teeth also leads to bad breath.

2. Stimulates gum tissues

Regularly flossing helps stimulate gum tissues, which in turn, keeps them healthy. It is not uncommon for the gums of a person who has not flossed in a while to bleed when they finally do floss. This is due to the gums not being stimulated for some time, so simple things like flossing irritate them.

3. Protects against gum disease

Flossing once daily helps protect against gum disease. It gives gum tissues the stimulation that they need to be healthy, and it removes bacteria around the gumline. Improving flossing habits can help reverse the first stage of gum disease.

Keeping the gumline clean reduces the risk of developing gum disease, a condition that has been linked with chronic health issues like respiratory diseases, heart disease, and diabetes.

Flossing is even more important for pregnant people because their risk of developing gum disease is higher. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists did a study that showed that pregnant people who floss at least once per day have a lower risk of lower birth weights and premature births.

4. Saves money in the long term

Dental floss does not cost much, yet it protects against tooth decay and gum disease when it is used for flossing done daily. Tooth decay and gum disease are two common reasons that people seek the services of a general dentist. Protecting teeth against these conditions reduces the odds of a person needing invasive treatments, like root canals or teeth replacement.

5. Freshens breath

Flossing teeth daily gets rid of any food particles stuck between teeth. Some of this debris can be lodged between teeth for weeks and start to decay. It can lead to unpleasant smells coming out of the mouth.

Make flossing part of your dental hygiene routine

Your oral hygiene routine is not complete until you floss your teeth. Give us a call or visit our Hackensack clinic for more oral hygiene tips.

Request an appointment here: https://www.smilebeautification.com or call Rolando Cibischino D.M.D. at (201) 204-1355 for an appointment in our Hackensack office.

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