Do your best friends floss their teeth every day but you don’t? Does your general dentist suggest you floss every time you visit him? If yes, and you still haven’t started doing it, think about it. Flossing has a long list of benefits that are too good to be overlooked. Consider these benefits of this oral care practice and then decide whether you still don’t wish to floss.
Cleaner Interdental Spaces
The most obvious benefit of flossing is that it keeps your mouth clean. Floss threads reach the most difficult areas of your mouth such as your interdental spaces and clean them. Even if you brush twice, or thrice daily, it is difficult to clean these spaces thoroughly. Such in-depth cleaning is only possible when you visit your general dentist and opt for a complete dental cleaning. But cleaning with the help of floss is much convenient than those procedures.
Decay and Cavity Prevention
Food that gets trapped between your teeth acts as food for harmful bacteria. Bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans thrive on such foods and release acids. These acids are responsible for tooth decays and even cavities. By cleaning away the leftover food, flossing also eliminates the chances of decays and cavities due to such bacteria.
Fewer Chances of Gum Diseases
When you don’t clean your mouth thoroughly, your mouth becomes a vulnerable site with a lot of bacteria there. Bacteria form a sticky, yellowish film on your dental surfaces and along the gumline. If ignored, decays and cavities are created. Not only this, but the scenario can worsen and result in the start of gum disease (gingivitis).
As you know, gum diseases are known for being painful and difficult to deal with. With thorough brushing and flossing, you prevent the film of bacteria from forming. In other words, you prevent the chances of gum diseases.
Reduced Risk of Diseases
Your mouth is a direct channel to the organs of your body. When you have a lot of bacteria in your mouth, they can travel down your throat to the respiratory system when you drink or eat anything. It may happen even when you gulp your saliva down. Some of these oral bacteria can cause respiratory diseases like bronchitis and even pneumonia. As mentioned above, proper brushing and flossing remove these bacteria. This way, there’s a reduced risk of several respiratory diseases.
If you have a cut in your mouth or bleeding gums, these bacteria can mix up with your blood. They can enter your bloodstream, reach your organs, and may result in heart disease or blood clots. Hence, cleaning your mouth is essential.
Do you have the problem of bad breath even after brushing twice or thrice daily? It is surely because your mouth isn’t clean enough. Clean your mouth with flossing daily. If you are new to the technique of flossing, then ask your general dentist to help you out with it. It is as easy as it sounds.