Kingston TN
Whether you like it or not, your dentist can tell if you floss daily. Even though you may know you need to floss, some feel that brushing alone is enough to do the job. But that thought process is not true since your toothbrush fails to reach between your teeth and down below the gum line. So, flossing is necessary to remove food debris and bacteria trapped between your teeth. Failing to floss daily has further ramifications for your oral health that may require additional time and money to address. Therefore, LakeView Dental Arts shares on the blog today why you should floss your teeth every day and what can happen if you choose not to.
At-Home Oral Care
The daily effort you exude toward taking care of your oral health can make a dramatic impact on your smile. According to the American Dental Association, brushing your teeth twice daily for two minutes and flossing once a day can remove most harmful bacteria and reduce your risk of advanced conditions. Even though some patients excel at brushing their teeth, most usually don’t floss everyday. However, flossing is a crucial activity that suits a purpose your toothbrush can’t deliver. In addition to removing food particles, flossing can help remove bacteria and plaque in the hard-to-reach places between your teeth and gum line.
Plaque and Tartar Risks
Harmful bacteria can damage your smile, but plaque and tartar are the worst culprits that can cause severe damage. Plaque is a sticky film that collects on your teeth throughout the day, and when you fail to remove it, it hardens into tartar. Unfortunately, plaque can form within 36 hours, cause cavities, or result in periodontal disease. Our family dentist in Kingston explains that after plaque turns into tartar, it can only get removed with special tools and a skilled dental hygienist during a cleaning appointment. Flossing works to prevent plaque buildup and protects your smile from tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease.
What happens when you never floss?
After consuming a meal, food remnants get stuck between your teeth and just below the gum line. That food then becomes a buffet for the harmful bacteria in your mouth. As they feed on the food, the bacteria excrete acids that eat away at your tooth enamel. If you never floss, you could suffer severe dental conditions and require root canal therapy, dental crowns, or tooth loss. Additionally, since your oral health directly connects to your overall health and wellness, it’s crucial to keep your mouth clean and healthy. So, we strongly encourage you to develop a daily habit of flossing to protect your oral health. If you’re unsure about how to floss properly, please ask our dental hygienists for a demonstration at your next appointment.
How can the dentist tell if I don’t floss my teeth?
Patients that don’t floss present with more tartar buildup, and their gums tend to bleed easily, especially during a dental cleaning. Nearly half of adults have some form of gum disease, which starts as gingivitis. Therefore, if you have gingivitis, it’s most often caused by not taking care of your teeth and not flossing. Therefore, flossing vigorously before your appointment is not enough to undo months or years of not flossing!
Family Dentist in Kingston, Tennessee
There are multiple excuses that people give about not flossing every day. However, now that you know how flossing can affect your oral health, it’s time to make sure that it’s part of your daily oral health care routine. By removing unwanted food debris and bacteria from between your teeth, you can protect your smile and maintain your self-confidence. If you have questions about flossing or would like to schedule an appointment for a checkup and cleaning, please call LakeView Dental Arts at (865) 376-9687 or contact us online to request an appointment today.
