Few reasons to floss every day – Just like brushing, you need to floss your teeth daily. There are reasons to floss every day. Flossing helps you clean in between your teeth. It is essential to prevent the formation of cavities and avoid gum diseases. Regular flossing prevents the development of a sticky film called plaque on your teeth.
Plaque
Plaque is very harmful to your teeth. It comprises bacteria that grow on leftover food or sugar particles in your mouth. Its formation produces an acid that damages the enamel on your teeth, leading to cavity formation.
If you fail to remove the plaque, eventually, it turns into a hard substance called tartar. Tartar damages your gums. Once tartar has formed, you cannot remove it on your own. Only a dentist can help you get rid of it.
Benefits of flossing every day
Flossing needs to be a compulsory element of your oral care routine. Below are the benefits that you get through regular flossing:
Prevents cavities
Tooth decay leads to the formation of cavities in your teeth. A cavity is a small hole that forms in the enamel of your teeth. It does not happen all of a sudden. The gradual build-up of plaque eventually leads you there. If you floss your teeth at least once a day, you can prevent tooth decay resulting from leftover food particles in your mouth.
Healthy gums
Regular flossing is compulsory for the health of your gums. Flossing can prevent gingivitis by reducing inflammation around your gums. If you leave gingivitis untreated, it leads to an infection called periodontitis. It causes your gums to recede from your teeth which makes them loose.
Periodontitis also has detrimental effects on the rest of the body. It causes inflammation that leads to several health problems.
Prevents bad breath
Bad breath is an embarrassing problem. One of the reasons to floss every day is to get rid of foul smells in your breath—bad breath results from decaying food particles in your mouth. Brushing cannot help you get rid of these particles.
The only effective way to get rid of food particles stuck between your teeth and bad breath is regular flossing.
Improves overall health
If you can manage your oral hygiene, you will enjoy better overall health. By ensuring good oral health, you take care of other all-important organs of your body. For example, good oral health makes your heart stay in a healthy condition.
Why do my teeth stink when I floss?
If there is a bad smell on your floss, it is an indication that some food particles are rotting in your teeth. It may also suggest that you are facing tooth decay or gum problems.
Can mouthwash replace flossing?
No, mouthwash cannot replace flossing. Mouthwash cannot dislodge the food particles stuck between your teeth. It also cannot prevent plaque formation. If you want to enjoy perfect oral health, you need to commit to both.
What if you don’t floss regularly?
Protecting your gums from harm is one of the reasons to floss every day. Regular flossing prevents the building up of plaque on your teeth. If you don’t floss regularly, gum diseases start to breed.
Should you brush first or floss first?
Brushing before flossing is the best way to go. Through brushing, you remove most of the plaque accumulated on your teeth. It makes the flossing quite effortless.
How much time does it take to floss your teeth?
You can adequately floss your teeth in two minutes. But it takes longer if you floss your teeth for the first time.