Sep
It’s the end of a long day and you are tired. You muster up the energy to get the kids to brush their teeth and finally brush your own. Now comes the final decision. Do you fight the final battle of the day to get everyone to floss? In this article, we discuss whether this flossing battle is worth it.
Unfortunately, brushing does not remove all the excess food particles in between your teeth. These food particles will eventually lead to tooth decay and subsequent periodontal (or gum) disease. Scientific literature demonstrates an association between periodontal disease and systemic diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Periodontal disease is largely caused by the accumulation of bacteria that can track into the bloodstream from underneath your gums.
Brushing alone is not enough to protect you from gum disease. You should floss your teeth regularly to prevent gum disease by removing plaque. This helps prevent tartar build-up. Flossing, along with professional dental hygiene cleanings, is the key to prevent periodontal disease.
NO YOU DON’T. You don’t have an excuse unless you are a newborn or have no teeth. Below we go over all the common excuses we hear from patients when they describe why they do not floss.
Many people with sensitive or bleeding gums will avoid flossing. However, chronically unhealthy gums increase the risk of systemic disease and hence, losing your teeth or needing a root canal. But if you floss your teeth daily, your gums bleed less and give you a better, healthier smile. It also helps prevent gingivitis, keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Soft floss is also available that slides comfortably between teeth for sensitive gums.
There are specialized flossing tools for patients with braces. This floss can be threaded between the teeth and the main wire of your braces. At Smile Studios, we’ll customize your home care routine to best suit your condition.
At your dental cleaning appointment at Smile Studios, we’ll show you how to properly hold the floss and use it. Traditional floss is the most effective way to keep your teeth clean and your gums healthy. However, there are other tools such as floss-on sticks where you don’t have to hold the wire at all. There are also electric and air flossers.
Children should start to floss by age 4-5 or when they have teeth that are close enough, between which toothbrush bristles can’t easily clean. From my own experience, young children are excited to follow what a parent does. If you make it a habit and they see you floss, it becomes easier for them to adopt the habit. As a part of your hygiene, you should visit Smile Studios for a regular checkup. Here, we also teach young children about the importance of flossing and its simple techniques.