A proper oral hygiene routine includes brushing at least two times a day and flossing at least once a day. Flossing is as important as brushing regularly to remove plaque and food that is in between teeth and near the gum line where brushing doesn’t reach. But, it is also a task that is easy to forget or just omit. When you don’t floss regularly, plaque builds up, gums can become inflamed, cavities may increase, and your overall health can be affected.
At Sninski and Schmitt, we advocate an oral hygiene routine that includes flossing every day. In this article, we discuss the importance of flossing and the consequences of not flossing. Don’t underestimate the impact of not flossing regularly.
Why Floss Daily?
Though flossing is a small task, it is crucial to maintaining good oral health. Flossing each day is important for maintaining good oral health because it effectively removes plaque and food particles from between teeth. Flossing prevents gum disease, cavities, and bad breath. It also helps keep gums healthy and prevents the buildup of tartar, which can lead to further dental problems.
These are some of the positive outcomes when you floss regularly:
Prevents Gum Disease: Flossing helps remove bacteria and plaque that can irritate and inflame gums, leading to gingivitis that can progress to periodontitis, a serious infection.
Prevents Cavities: Plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, can accumulate on teeth and can harden into tartar. Flossing helps remove plaque before it hardens and leads to cavities.
Reduces Bad Breath: Food particles and bacteria trapped between teeth can cause bad breath. Flossing helps remove these particles, contributing to fresher breath.
Maintains Overall Health: There is evidence suggesting a link between gum health and overall health, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Maintaining good oral hygiene through flossing can contribute to overall health and well-being.
Risks of Not Flossing
The risks of not flossing are significant both to your oral health and to your overall health. The longer you go without flossing, the more likely you can develop the following conditions.
Plaque and Tartar Buildup
When you don’t floss, plaque can accumulate between your teeth and gumline. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria, food particles, and saliva. If it is not removed through brushing and flossing, it can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health problems. Plaque buildup affects your enamel when it starts to harden. It is difficult to remove once it hardens. At this point, a dentist is required to dislodge it. Be sure to keep up with regular dental checkups to ensure plaque and tartar are being removed.
Gingivitis
Plaque that builds up on the teeth can irritate and inflame your gums, leading to gingivitis. Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease and is characterized by inflammation and bleeding gums. Gingivitis is reversible with proper oral hygiene and professional cleaning.
Periodontitis
If gingivitis is left untreated, it can progress to periodontitis, a more serious form of gum disease that can damage the bone and tissue supporting your teeth. Periodontitis is a serious form of gum disease that causes inflammation and infection of the tissues that support your teeth, including the gums, bones, and ligaments.
Cavities
Plaque can lead to tooth decay and the formation of cavities. Bacteria in plaque and tartar produce acids that stick to tooth enamel. Brushing removes plaque on the front and back of teeth. But, without flossing regularly, the acids dissolve the enamel between the teeth and lead to cavities. Left untreated, cavities can lead to severe tooth decay.
Bleeding Gums
Healthy gums do not bleed. When you fail to clean your teeth properly, the plaque and tartar can build up along the gum line and your gums become irritated and inflamed, which leads to bleeding. To prevent gum inflammation, bleeding, and sensitivity, you need to floss regularly. If you experience bleeding gums, schedule an appointment with your dentist. We will check for plaque and tartar and your overall health. If left untreated, bleeding gums can lead to gum disease and health complications.
Bad Breath
Bad breath, also called halitosis, can become noticeable when you don’t floss. As food particles remain in your mouth, the bacteria start to break down these food fragments, generating sulfurous compounds that increase the resulting odor.
Long-Term Health Issues
If you go months or years without consistently flossing, you have a higher risk of developing the following issues.
Loose Teeth
Without flossing, your teeth may become loose. Gum inflammation and a receding gum line can break down the collagen and fibers that hold your teeth together. Loosened teeth can tighten up again with prompt dental care and consistent home care. However, this process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on the severity of the problem. To prevent teeth from getting loose brush and floss daily.
Tooth Loss
Sometimes the damage of gum disease and loose teeth is irreversible. In these cases, gum disease will lead to a loss of the affected tooth or teeth. The empty socket in the gum can be hard to keep clean and is prone to infections. The teeth nearest to the gap may shift to fill in, which leads to extensive damage to your oral health.
Chronic Health Problems
Inflammations and infections in your mouth can expand into your vital organs. Studies have shown a link between gum disease and cardiovascular disease. People with gum disease may be at a two to three times higher risk of heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular events. While treating gum disease may not prevent heart disease, it’s critical to maintain good oral health as part of overall cardiovascular health.
Gum disease can also affect the nervous, musculoskeletal, and endocrine systems, leading to issues like dementia, Alzheimer’s, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, and uncontrolled type II diabetes. Proper oral hygiene, including the regular use of dental floss, can prevent many of these issues.
How to Properly Floss
You may not know the proper way to floss. Use this step-by-step guide to find out how to floss your teeth correctly:
- Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the rest of the floss around the same finger on the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty.
- Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.
- Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.
- When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Then gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.
- Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up and down motions. Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth. Don’t forget the back side of your last tooth. Once you are finished, throw the floss away. A used piece of floss won’t be as effective and could leave bacteria behind in your mouth.
It is also important to use the proper technique for brushing your teeth as discussed in this article, “Proper Way to Brush Teeth.”
Tips for Making Flossing a Daily Habit
Understanding the benefits as we have discussed in this article is a foundation for flossing on a routine basis. Here are some tips that further help in making flossing a daily habit:
- Keep floss visible: Place floss in a prominent location such as next to your toothbrush or on your bathroom counter to serve as a visual reminder.
- Keep floss handy: Store floss in multiple locations such as the bathroom, a purse, desk, or car to make it more accessible wherever you are.
- Try flossing aids: If traditional floss is difficult to use, consider floss picks, interdental brushes, or water flossers.
- Choose a floss you like: Experiment with different types of floss like waxed, unwaxed, and flavored to find one that feels comfortable and appealing.
- Link it to an existing habit: Floss right before or after brushing your teeth or another daily activity.
- Set reminders: Use phone alarms, sticky notes, or dental apps to remind you to floss.
- Pick a consistent time: Aim to floss at the same time each day to help establish a routine.
- Set realistic goals: Don’t try to floss perfectly every day at the start. Aim for consistency over perfection.
- Track your progress: Use a calendar or a habit tracker to mark off days you floss, providing a visual record of your progress.
- Focus on the positive: Think about the fresh, clean feeling of your mouth after flossing and the benefits for your health.
- Be patient: It takes time to build a new habit. Don’t get discouraged if you miss a day or two here and there.
Contact Sninski and Schmitt Family Dentistry to Schedule an Appointment
Flossing only takes a minute or two each day but has long-lasting benefits. Skipping it puts your teeth, gums, and overall health at risk. Contact the friendly, professional team at Sninski and Schmitt for problems with your gums or teeth and guidance on flossing. We can take care of all of your family dentistry needs. Call our Holly Springs dentist office at (919) 600-6262 or our Cary, NC dentist office at (919) 467-2203. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.