For many, flossing is optional when it comes to oral hygiene habits. The truth, however, is that flossing is as important as brushing your teeth, as an Apex, NC dentist can explain. Flossing not only keeps your teeth healthy but can contribute to improved overall health as well. Flossing enables you to reach areas where the bristles of your toothbrush cannot. Dentists recommend you floss your teeth regularly as part of an effective home care routine.
Prevent Gingivitis and Gum Disease
Flossing removes plaque and food particles from between your teeth. Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease and the most treatable. Flossing helps prevent the signs and symptoms of gingivitis by removing plaque.
Prevent Tartar
Tartar refers to the calcification of dental plaque when exposed to saliva. Dentists, like a trusted Apex, NC dentist, recommend flossing daily to prevent formation of tartar which can also lead to gum disease.
Prevent Cavities
The same dental plaque that causes gingivitis can lead to the growth of harmful bacteria that will destroy the enamel between your teeth, forming a cavity. Flossing daily decreases the likelihood of cavity development.
Prevents Halitosis
Halitosis is another name for bad breath. The main cause of bad breath is food particles that are left between teeth. The only way to get rid of every bit of food particle is to floss daily.
Prevent Heart Disease
It has been established that there is an association between oral health and heart disease, as a dentist in Apex, NC can attest. This is because the mouth acts as an inlet of harmful bacteria to the cardiac tissue. Brushing twice a day and flossing is the best way of preventing such bacteria from affecting your heart.
Control Diabetes
Diabetics are more likely to develop gingivitis than people who don’t have diabetes. And poor oral hygiene can make diabetes more difficult to control. Flossing is important in preventing gum infections, which could affect your insulin needs.
Make teeth appear whiter
Your teeth will look brighter and healthier if you maintain healthy gums, by flossing daily with whitening floss or any other type of floss that you like.
Types of Dental Floss
There are multiple types of floss and all are effective when used properly with the education from an Apex, NC dentist.
- Unwaxed floss is thin nylon floss made of strands twisted together. It fits into tight spaces if your teeth are close together, but it is prone to shredding or breaking.
- Waxed floss is standard nylon floss with a light wax coating. It is less likely to break, but the wax coating may make it harder to use in tight spots.
- Dental tape is broader and flatter than standard floss and comes in waxed or unwaxed varieties. People with more space between their teeth often find dental tape more comfortable to use than standard floss.
- Polytetrafluorethylene floss (PTFE) is the same material used in high-tech Gore-Tex fabric. The material slides between the teeth easily and is less likely to shred compared to standard floss.
- Super flosses are made from yarn-like material that has stiffer sections on each end that can be used to clean around braces or dental bridges.
For more information on why flossing is so important, or to schedule an appointment today, contact an Apex, NC Dentist from Alliance Dentistry, today.