Reasons Why You Should Floss Daily

Improving your overall dental hygiene is imperative. Proper dental hygiene will help to prevent cavities, gum disease, infections, and more. While twice-daily brushing is excellent, if you forget to floss, you are not removing all the harmful plaque and bacteria in your mouth. You should be flossing every single day.

What Makes Flossing So Good for Your Teeth?

You may think you can reach everything in your mouth with your toothbrush. Some toothbrush makers claim that you can clean your entire teeth with their toothbrushes, but there are spaces you will miss even with the most expensive toothbrushes out there.

It is possible to get rid of plaque by using dental floss. This sticky substance is attracted to food that is stuck between your teeth. Plaque can quickly build up and cause cavities and gum disease.

When plaque stays in between your teeth, it can harden into tartar. A tartar buildup can lead to gum disease over time. When you have a lot of tartar buildup, you will notice that your gums are sensitive and may bleed a lot. Gum disease and issues with your gums can lead to health issues like diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and more.

If you have excess plaque buildup, it can lead to cavities. Your saliva cannot wash away the plaque when it is stuck between your teeth. Regular brushing will remove the plaque from the front of your teeth but not the sides, and this is why you need to floss regularly.

How Often Should You Be Flossing?

If you're wondering how often you should floss, a good rule of thumb is to floss every day. It does not matter what time of day you do it as long as you do it at some point in the day. Most people choose to floss at night when they have more time to get it done. If you do not have time at night, try to incorporate it throughout your day.

There are many types of floss available, so you should have no trouble finding floss and getting into a daily routine. When you floss, you must do it properly. Go through each one of your teeth and floss around each one. If you have not flossed in a while, you may notice some bleeding, which is perfectly normal.

Do not skip around on any of your teeth because there could be bacteria lurking around. Some people choose to brush their teeth again right after flossing to ensure that all the bacteria out of their mouth is gone. You may also want to rinse your mouth with mouthwash to ensure that your teeth and gums are clean.

Even if you floss regularly, you will still want to make sure that you see your dentist twice a year for a checkup and a dental cleaning. At Patriot Family Dental, we offer a full array of dental care and will help to ensure that you have the best oral health possible. Call us, contact us online, or book your appointment online today to schedule your appointment.