A recent Delta Dental Survey found a shocking stat on flossing. As per the study, sixty percent of Americans don’t floss at least once a day and twenty percent don’t floss at all! To put things in perspective, nearly 200 million Americans don’t floss daily and more than 66 million people never floss at all.
That’s an alarming number of people who are not realizing the umpteen benefits of regular flossing. At TruCare Dentistry, we know what a difference flossing at least once a day can make on people. In this blog post, we have discussed the benefits of regular flossing as well as the types of floss to choose from.
Advantages of regular flossing
You must be aware of how important it is to floss at least once a day. Regular flossing is the most important step in a healthy oral hygiene regimen and has many benefits. Here are some of those.
- Removes plaque and food particles between teeth
One of the biggest benefits of flossing at least once a day is that it removes plaque and food particles between teeth. Being a colorless sticky film, plaque is extremely hard to detect and remove with normal brushing techniques. When it lingers on teeth surface for a long time, it can cause many dental complications such as cavities, bad breath, and gum infections. On the other hand, when food particles and other debris remain between teeth, they release acids after coming in contact with bacteria. The acids then react with the plaque and corrode the teeth surface. Daily flossing helps in removing the most stubborn plaque and food particles and prevents tartar formation. While a regular thread flosser can remove plaque and food particles from hard-to-reach places between teeth, an oral irrigator (water flosser) can flush out undesirable debris efficiently.
- Prevents a wide range of oral and dental complications
When plaque buildup increases in size and food particles remain between teeth for a long time, they can cause a wide range of oral and dental problems starting from cavities, bad breath, and gum diseases. When plaque and other debris remain stuck to the tooth surface, they release acids and start corroding the enamel. If not removed on time, it can cause cavities and tooth decay. Similarly, an overtime buildup of plaque and food particles can cause chronic halitosis or bad breath. Irregular flossing can also cause many types of gum diseases such as gingivitis, early-stage gum disease, as well as periodontitis, a more serious type of gum disease. If not treated on time, periodontitis can cause an inflammatory response in the body and can cause many oral complications ranging from mouth sores and blisters to deterioration of jawbone, and loose teeth, just to name a few. A study published in the Journal of Dental Hygiene shows that flossing once a day will help reduce gingivitis.
- Reduces the risks of many health conditions
Our overall health and well-being are deeply connected with our oral health. Many studies have established the role oral health plays in keeping the body healthy. For instance, research conducted in 2019 found that people who took good care of their teeth and maintained a high standard of oral hygiene had a much lower risk of heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Conversely, poor oral hygiene is linked to many health conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, and many types of cancers including oral cancer, respiratory problems, kidney failure, pregnancy complications, and many other health issues. Here’s where regular flossing can help immensely. By eliminating plaque and other oral hazards, flossing at least once a day can considerably reduce the risks of many serious health conditions.
- Enhances your looks and gives you the confidence to smile and talk naturally
There are many famous quotes about the virtue of smiling. Such as “A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.” And “A smile is the shortest distance between two people.” But a small oral complication such as a dark spot on teeth or bad breath can snatch away the confidence to smile naturally as well as meet and converse with people. By preventing many oral complications, regular flossing will not only make you look better but also give you the confidence to smile and talk with people. To take good care of your oral health and have the confidence to flash a winning smile, you must floss at least once daily.
You may also like to read, How to Floss with Braces?
- Saves time on your daily oral care regimen
Flossing for just a couple of minutes every day before going to bed can help you save a lot of time on brushing and your daily oral care regimen. Dentists recommend flossing teeth before brushing them. That’s because when the former is done first, it typically loosens plaque and food particles between your teeth. The subsequent brushing removes plaque and food particles much faster and more efficiently. As flossing prevents many oral complications, it saves time and money on more expensive and invasive dental procedures.
Preferable time and frequency to floss
Some people like to floss in the morning after they brush, while others prefer to floss before going to bed. Even though there is no such hard and fast rule as to the right time and frequency to floss, expert dentists from the America Dental Association recommend you should floss at least once daily before brushing your teeth.
When you floss before brushing your teeth, you loosen plaque and food particles. The subsequent brushing action removes plaque and food particles much faster and more efficiently.
Types of floss
Regular dental floss generally comes in two varieties—waxed and unwaxed.
As per the American Dental Association, there’s not much difference between efficacy and efficiency. That’s when it comes to choosing between the two, it depends on personal preference.
Apart from that, there are other types of floss such as super floss that are extremely useful for those with bridges, orthodontic braces, and wide gaps between teeth. Oral irrigators, or water flossers, use water pressure to eradicate debris between the teeth. Air flossers use air pressure to force out debris between the teeth.
Floss picks and interdental brushes are small wand-like brushes that can clean the interdental spaces and sides of your teeth. They are extremely convenient for flossing while traveling.
In conclusion
After brushing twice daily, flossing at least once a day is the most inexpensive and effective way to ensure excellent oral health. Regular flossing has many benefits not just for dental health but also for overall health and mental well-being. At TruCare Dentistry, we believe in preventive care. We know what daily flossing can do to your teeth. If you are looking for the best dental clinic that can check on your teeth and recommend the right type of floss for you, consider TruCare Dentistry. To know more about our services, visit Our Services page or call (678) 321-7575 to book an appointment today.