Preventative dental care is key to keeping your smile healthy and beautiful for a lifetime. Eating a healthy diet, visiting your dentist twice a year for routine dental exams, and practicing good oral hygiene, including flossing your teeth every day, can all make a big difference in your long-term dental health. But is flossing your teeth really necessary? Before scheduling your next dental check-up at Indian Trail Dental Studio, here’s what you should know about the importance of flossing your teeth.
Why Should People Floss Their Teeth?
If you think flossing your teeth is a waste of time, think again. While the benefits of using dental floss at home every day may not be apparent to the naked eye, this simple step can significantly impact the health of your teeth and gums. Along with being a quick, easy, and affordable preventative dental step, regular flossing can provide many oral health benefits, including:
- Removing food particles and bacteria that get trapped between the crevices of your teeth
- Reducing bad breath
- Preventing periodontal disease from developing
- Preventing tooth decay/cavities and even tooth loss
What Can Happen If You Don’t Floss Your Teeth?
Like brushing, flossing should be a part of your at-home dental hygiene routine. Even if you don’t seem to notice a difference in the health or appearance of your smile when you skip flossing, doing so can lead to serious oral and overall health problems. For instance, if you choose not to floss your teeth regularly, bacteria and debris left behind from eating and drinking can quickly build up between your teeth and your gum line. Over time, a sticky, transparent film can form, called plaque, that will eventually harden into tartar buildup. This tartar buildup is impossible to remove without a professional cleaning. It can lead to your gums pulling away from the surface of your teeth, gum disease, tooth decay, bad breath, bone loss, bleeding gums, and even severe health problems, such as heart disease. With this in mind, it’s safe to say that neglecting the dental floss in your bathroom cabinet isn’t worth the risk. Taking the extra few minutes to floss is worth the time and effort to protect your smile.
How Often Should People Brush and Floss Their Teeth?
No one wants to go to the dentist thinking they have good oral health only to discover cavities or gum disease. The good news is that most common oral health concerns are preventable by simply brushing and flossing your teeth regularly. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that people of all ages brush and floss their teeth twice a day, once in the morning and once before bed. Brushing and flossing are the best ways to prevent bacteria from collecting between your teeth and along your gum line, which is the most common way dental disease forms.
Schedule Your Next Dental Appointment at Indian Trail Dental Studio
Brushing and flossing twice a day is essential to protecting your smile’s well-being, but they certainly aren’t the only preventative dental steps you should take in your oral hygiene routine. It’s equally important to visit the dentist every six months for routine dental exams and professional cleanings. At Indian Trail Dental Studio, Dr. Patel and her friendly team are eager to show you how simple and convenient caring for your teeth and gums can be. If it’s been a while since your teeth were examined and cleaned at the dentist, don’t wait to schedule your next bi-annual dentist appointment. Contact us today!
