Most conversations at the dentist consist of the dentist asking if you flossed, and you, the patient, decide if it’s worth telling the truth or not. While electric toothbrushes help remove plaque build-up, they do not reach all areas. Flossing is the added bonus for a cleaner and healthier smile. Not everyone flosses as much as they should, but there are multiple reasons why flossing daily is actually beneficial for your health.
Floss for Healthier Gums and Lifestyle
Flossing daily in addition to brushing your teeth twice a day prevents gums from bleeding after brushing. Additionally, there are even benefits to flossing after a snack or meal. If weight-loss is one of your summer goals, flossing after every meal has proven (anecdotally) to be beneficial to snacking less. Those who made it a habit to floss after every meal or snack would weigh the pros and cons of eating snacks that are more likely to get stuck in your teeth. Ultimately, snacks that are more likely to get stuck–like popcorn and pretzels–were removed from diets.
Preventing Oral Diseases
Did you know that flossing can help prevent onset gingivitis just by removing plaque? According to Oral-B, flossing can prevent gum diseases. Essentially, there is a chain reaction. Without flossing, there is a higher potential risk of periodontal disease, leading to an increased risk of heart disease. Flossing can also reduce tooth decay and remove the plaque that your toothbrush isn’t reaching daily.
Cleaner Smile
Warmer weather leads to more social activities. Pictures are taken and you are cheesing! Don’t check the front camera on your phone for bits of food that may be stuck between your teeth. Always carry on-the-go floss around with you and your smile confidence will be sure to boost. Show off that clean smile, knowing you flossed just before your close up.
Next time you visit the dentist, you can say you flossed, and really mean it. If you are concerned about your dental health, our dentist near Uptown is always happy to serve all things teeth!
