The Benefits of Flossing

Out of all the dental hygiene practices, flossing tends to be the one that many patients have a hard time practicing. According to the latest statistics from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, only three out of every 10 Americans floss every day, while only 37% claim to floss sparingly. Meaning, over one-quarter of the U.S. Citizens never floss at all. Flossing, while it may seem like an unnecessary practice, flossing has major benefits to your mouth and impacts your health in more ways than you’d think.

Flossing Teeth Removes Dental Plaque

Your toothbrush cannot always reach the places in between your teeth where plaque builds up. Plaque constantly forms and can quickly build up on the teeth without you realizing it because of its colorless in appearance. Plaque, when leftover long periods, can lead to tartar, which is yellow/brown in color, and the only way to completely remove the tartar from your teeth is through visiting your dentist. Over time, the tartar can cause gingivitis, causing your gums to well, which is the first stage of gum disease. Gum disease causes the plaque and tartar to travel down into the pockets in your gums, attacking your teeth and cause periodontal disease. All of these diseases can potentially lead to tooth decay and tooth loss, which damages the integrity of the jaw bone and jawline.

Flossing Reduces Bad Breath

By removing the plaque buildup from your mouth with floss, your breath overtime will smell better! Flossing also removes pesky food particles that can affect your mouth odor. If food particles get left in the mouth, those particles will begin to rot, causing your breath to smell bad no matter how much mouthwash you use. So, if you wish not to have any awkward situations, then floss your teeth!

Flossing Helps Clean Your Braces

If you have braces or had braces, then flossing is essential. When you have braces, cleaning your teeth and equipment becomes an essential part of your dental health, because plaque buildup and food particles that get stuck in the teeth will hurt the equipment as well, causing additional buildup. In the end, having plaque-buildup will look unsightly so that flossing can help.

Flossing Cuts Down on Dental Costs

Modern dental care focuses on preventative oral hygiene measures, which include flossing. When you maintain a strong dental routine, you can avoid the costly procedures if you don’t have insurance. Even if you do have insurance, many practices don’t accept insurance for expensive dental work. Preventative care can reduce the costs of dental treatments over time, and flossing is just a small part that makes a huge difference.

Schedule an appointment with Jacob Laudie Dental if you’re looking for quality dental care that won’t hurt your budget. Dr. Jacob Laudie gives comprehensive oral exams and consultations on your dental health during your first visit and has been serving the Lees Summit, MO community for years. If you wish to have dental care that’s dedicated to your comfort, then contact Dr. Laudie today to begin your journey towards excellent dental health.