Importance of Flossing For Your Teeth

Flossing can be a challenging habit to adopt, but its benefits will improve your health and save you pain and expense.

Dentists, including those at Your Family Dentist in Arizona, emphasize the importance of flossing to each of their patients. Unfortunately, they find that very few heed the warnings. It's estimated that up to 80% of people don't floss their teeth. However, flossing isn't just an extra step in your daily routine; it is an extremely beneficial part of oral hygiene, one that can prevent major problems such as gum disease and tooth loss.

Preventing Decay and Infection

While it may seem extraneous if you're brushing your teeth regularly, dental floss reaches places that even the most sophisticated toothbrush can't touch. Plaque doesn't just build up on the surfaces of your teeth - it also collects between the teeth, causing bad breath and inflamed gums. Once the plaque hardens and becomes tartar, it must be removed by a dental hygienist using more invasive methods. Without treatment, tartar attacks the enamel and sensitive gum tissue around the teeth, which can lead to cavities and periotonitis, a painful infection of the gums that can even spread to the bones and result in tooth loss.

Making Time to Floss

One of the most common excuses people give for not flossing is that it's too time-consuming. The traditional method of flossing, in which you wrap each end around your fingers and pull the thread through the spaces in your teeth, can take a little practice. However, recent advancements in dental technology have made flossing much more convenient. With handheld Y-shaped picks and other tools, flossing can easily be worked into other activities, such as showering or waiting in traffic. With proper technique, it should only take a few minutes.

If you have further questions, the dental professionals at Your Family Dentist in Glendale would be happy to demonstrate the most effective and efficient way to floss your teeth.