All the Benefits to Flossing Your Teeth
People who choose to not floss regularly are not considering how important the process is to healthy teeth and gums. They may brush and rinse with mouthwash daily, but miss out on the benefits of flossing.
The American Dental Association advises that everyone floss at least once a day. Flossing helps remove plaque, bacteria and food that can get stuck in the areas between teeth. These are unwanted elements that you may not even see and a toothbrush cannot reach. Unwanted elements can build and spread, creating a layer of plaque. Plaque, in turn, can harden into tartar or calculus. Both conditions are the result from precipitation of minerals and gingival crevicular fluids. They can compromise the health of gums as they spread and form along the line of the gums. Tartar build-up also plays a significant role in the discolouration of teeth. Without flossing, one contributes to any number of negative manifestations, including receding gums, chronically inflamed gingiva and bad breath.
Flossing: Before or After Brushing
A recent study by MouthHealthy found 53 percent of their readers floss before they brush and 47 percent do so after brushing.
Hygienists state that there is no right or wrong time for flossing. All that matters is you perform the act at least once a day. In fact, flossing does not necessarily have to be part of the brushing process. Do it at the end of the day before going to bed, immediately after dinner or lunch, first thing in the morning. Ironically, many simply will not devote the couple of minutes required to floss. But it can be done while watching television, reading a book or surfing YouTube.
Children & Flossing
Promoting good oral hygiene in children ensures they grow into adults that care about oral hygiene. It is advised that a child should floss as early as the moment they have two teeth that touch. Unfortunately, children that young will not have the dexterity flossing demands. Parents may have to take responsibility for the process until children can effectively perform the act themselves.
Care with Flossing
If you floss too hard, there is the possibility of damaging tissue between teeth. If you are too gentle, you risk not removing unwanted elements. While there can be some discomfort — especially when starting out — flossing should not be painful. There might even be some bleeding. If these symptoms last longer than a week, contact your dentist.
Flossing Options
There are a number of options for flossing. When managed responsibly, they all get the job done. So choosing a product mostly falls on personal preference or recommendations from a professional.
Among flossing products that can be purchased are:
- Dental floss
- Pre-threaded flossers
- Tiny brushes
- Water flossers
- Wooden plaque removers
- Wax and unwaxed floss
- Thick floss
- Comfort floss
Always look for products that have the ADA “Seal of Acceptance.” This recognition indicates the product has been evaluated for effectiveness and safety.
Effective Flossing
- Use enough floss, at least 18 inches.
- Wrap ends around the middle or index finger on each hand.
- Slide floss between teeth in a zigzag motion.
- Wrap floss around tooth.
- Carefully pull floss upward to the top of the tooth.
- As you move through the mouth, use a fresh section of floss.
- Floss the back side of each tooth.
- Never reuse floss as its use diminishes effectiveness and could leave unwanted elements in the mouth.
These are guidelines for standard floss. If you are using another instrument, such as a water flosser, carefully read the instructions or speak with your dentist.
10 Benefits of Flossing
- Flossing is the most effective way to manage oral health. Brushing achieves greater success when combined with regular flossing.
- An accumulation of tartar and calculus threatens the health of gums and creates the possibility of building plaque. Flossing greatly reduces the accumulation of unwanted elements.
- Flossing is a great deterrent to tooth decay. Cavities thrive on sugar left on the surface of and between teeth, becoming host to a range of bacteria that gradually destroys teeth. Brushing removes sugar residue, bacteria and plaque from teeth surfaces, but flossing removes elements that get stuck between the teeth. Flossing is a critical step to minimizing cavity risk between dental visits.
- Accumulated plaque is also a major symptom of gingivitis. Besides getting between teeth, plaque can hide along the gum line. There is the possibility of inflammation of the gums and periodontitis. This can lead to serious infections and tooth loss. By regularly flossing, you can ensure plague and unwanted bacteria is removed and minimizes risks.
- Halitosis is the medical term for bad breath. When plaque is not managed, all the unwanted elements can create a foul smell that exits any time we open our mouths. Millions of people suffer from halitosis, enduring social embarrassment in all aspects of their lives. And like plaque, tooth decay and gum disease — both minimized by flossing — can cause bad breath. Flossing rids the mouth of bacteria that contributes to halitosis.
- Considering the significant rise in health costs, taking every step to ensure you reduce medical expenses has to be considered. Flossing is a preventative measure that can pay off later. Unexpected dental needs and emergencies can cost as much as 10 times a regular visit.
- The medical community has done a range of research that reveals links between gum disease and serious medical conditions. They believe gum disease can have an impact on the immune system and, once the immune system is compromised, there is greater risk of stroke, pancreatic cancer, pneumonia, heart disease and low birth-weight babies.
- Diabetics have an increased risk of gum disease. They have more reasons than the rest of the population to be proactive when it comes to protecting their teeth and gums. They not only need to brush and floss regularly, they need to have their teeth examined by a dentist probably at least three to four times a year, compared to the advised twice.
- Many people suffer from dry mouth, a condition produced by a reduction of saliva usually produced by glands in the mouth. Dry mouth is usually the side effect of a medication and it is common among people over 65 that take medications. It is believed over 500 common medications are a contributor to dry mouth. Flossing can play a part in confronting dry mouth as it scrapes off bacteria that saliva otherwise would have killed.
- Besides dental hygiene and tooth health, flossing helps improve the overall appearance of the mouth. It minimizes discolouration and removes debris from between teeth, contributing to a clean, white look. People who are happy with their teeth smile more often. And studies show that people who smile more have a more positive outlook and better mental health stability.
Flossing needs to be a part of everyone’s oral routine. Also, make sure you keep an open communication with your dentist about the types of oral care products and services that will be most effective for you.
