Your dentist may advise regular flossing to ensure proper dental hygiene and to maintain your teeth and gums. However, many people don’t floss as they don’t believe it is necessary.
Flossing is a vital part of dental care as it allows you to reach all the areas your toothbrush can’t. This allows you to effectively clean in between your teeth and along your gum line, removing any build-up of plaque and debris that your toothbrush may not be able to.
Plaque removal is important to the health of your teeth and gums as if not removed, it can harden and form into tartar. This can lead to tooth decay and gum disease which can be painful and unpleasant to deal with.
Tooth decay can lead to teeth needing to be removed, which can be costly as well as painful and uncomfortable. Therefore, preventing this with proper brushing and flossing is vital to ensuring your teeth stay clean and healthy.
Build-up can also cause gum disease, which leads to inflammation, bleeding, gum recession and in extreme cases tooth loss. Having healthy gums helps to decrease the risk of gum disease, helping to protect your teeth and gums.
Flossing can also improve your gum health as it promotes blood circulation, which can help them to remain strong and prevent them from receding later in life.
There are also several other benefits to flossing. It can help to prevent bad breath, which is caused by a build-up of plaque and bacteria in the mouth. By effectively removing this from all areas of your teeth and gums, you will have fresher breath and a cleaner-feeling mouth.
If you are finding flossing painful or that it is causing your gums to bleed, you may be being too aggressive. Floss should be gently guided between your teeth and along the gums and you should use clean floss for each tooth to prevent the spread of bacteria.