5 Benefits of Flossing Your Teeth
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Getting into the habit of flossing teeth has become a practice that is now widely recommended by dentists, ever since dental floss was first invented in 1815. Dental floss is now regarded as one of the key oral health habits we should all adopt on a daily basis. Flossing your teeth can drastically improve your oral health, reducing plaque and keeping your teeth and gums healthy.
But why is flossing so important? Here’s our handy guide to the many benefits of flossing – and how to floss well.
Dental floss is known to get rid of plaque on our teeth. While brushing your teeth is an effective way to reduce plaque on the surface of the teeth, there is no toothbrush that can reach into those smaller, more delicate areas between the gums and teeth. In many situations, we are told that brushing alone is enough.
It’s not. To reach those areas your toothbrush can’t, you do need to add an additional tool to our oral health routine. After you eat, it’s natural that some residue from your foods will become trapped within the tiny gaps in your teeth. Flossing prevents plaque by eliminating the build-up of food that is trapped in-between teeth and gums.
Flossing is easy. It may be a habit that is easily overlooked, considered as the last step after both brushing and mouthwash. But it doesn’t take long, and can work wonders in improving your oral health.
Dental floss is recommended by the NHS, especially for those that cannot use interdental brushes. Interdental brushes are often too big for some people to use in between their teeth, and incorrect use can cause bleeding and sensitivity. It’s important that you work with your dentist to figure out the best way to clean your teeth. Many will recommend dental floss, as it’s a non-invasive way to be pro-active about limiting plaque and tartar.
Still not convinced? Here are just a few of the benefits to flossing your teeth:
If we don’t floss, plaque can begin to form in those smaller areas that toothbrushes cannot reach. This can then lead to more concerning issues as the plaque hardens, such as cavities and gum disease.
Plaque may not seem like a concerning issue in itself. The reassuring thing is that you can take measures to fix it, such as flossing. But if you neglect certain areas in your mouth, plaque will inevitably build up. This is a common issue, as many stick to strict brushing routines; but don’t consider the implications of not flossing!
As plaque builds up, it can irritate the gums. We know that brushing of teeth is essential for getting rid of plaque on our teeth. Why do many ignore the smaller gaps and crevices that are missed? They aren’t immune to plaque.
When plaque hardens, it turns into a substance called tartar. If we don’t floss between our teeth, these are the areas where tartar forms and becomes more of a problem. Tartar is hard and almost impossible to remove without a trip to the dentist, where they will use specially designed cleaning tools and cleansers to remove the hardened substance.
Once tartar has formed, it can begin to erode the enamel that protects our teeth. This can lead to cavities and gum disease, as the hardened substance builds up and irritates our gums. Tartar is essentially brimming with bacteria, as it’s formed from foods that become stuck between the teeth – if they aren’t removed with dental floss. Tartar can therefore lead to infections and gum disease.
Flossing your teeth may take a couple of minutes of your time. But it’s well worth it, especially considering how it can cause cavities and gum disease if you don’t.
Brushing your teeth can feel effective and refreshing – but there will be places in your mouth that your toothbrush can’t reach. Flossing means you can clean much more of your mouth, rather than just relying on the toothbrush to do all the work. We all know the feeling after eating a meal and realising there’s something stuck in the teeth.
Why not floss every day, after every meal, so you know you are taking proper care of your oral health? Foods become lodged between your teeth without even realising. To avoid extra expenses by going to the dentist, you can take up habits like flossing that remove these irritants straight away.
Plaque forms if you don’t manage to clean the trickier areas in the mouth, and this unfortunately has an impact on how your breath smells.
If you are conscious about how your breath smells, we can help. At Ringway Dental, our dedicated team consider a range of treatments when consulting every patient. We are all different, and our teeth reflect this – there is no ‘one size fits all’ treatment when it comes to dealing with plaque or the issues that it causes. We can most likely help identify the source of the issue. We can then tailor our treatments in a way that focuses on what you think matters most. We want to help restore your smile, and your confidence.
Once you start flossing, you may notice your teeth look brighter and healthier. This is because once the plaque is removed, your teeth are no longer covered with the ‘fuzzy’ substance. Flossing helps maintain the health of your mouth, reducing the number of bacteria present and making sure your gums have space to support the teeth.
Flossing might seem like an extra task, but there will be more tasks, appointments, and even pain, if you don’t keep on top of your oral hygiene routine.
If you’re looking to improve your oral health, Ringway Dental can help. Flossing your teeth is a great way to improve your oral health, but we understand that there are other issues that can get in the way.
If you have a build-up of plaque or tartar and are looking for a solution, we have plenty of options available. At Ringway Dental, we’re committed to making dental care accessible and affordable. Our 0% interest financing options mean you can spread the cost of treatment, without worrying about paying all at once.
You can discuss your concerns with our Smile Advisor by booking a free digital appointment. You can also fill out our online contact form, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. Alternatively, you can call our practice now on 0161 437 2029.
