Find out why flossing is absolutely crucial for a healthy smile.
37 percent of Americans don’t floss daily and a little over 32 percent never floss. What category do you fall under? If you aren’t flossing daily, you are doing your smile a great disservice. Our Granger, IN, family dentist Dr. Ronald Stangebye wants to prevent gum disease and other problems from happening to you, which is why flossing is a necessary habit for everyone to adopt.
Why is flossing important?
You brush your teeth twice a day… isn’t that enough? While brushing your teeth removes food, bacteria and plaque from the front and back surfaces of your teeth, what about those spaces between teeth? How are you supposed to clean between teeth? The only way to get a thorough clean is by flossing your teeth, too.
While flossing everyday supports good oral hygiene it also promotes better overall health. That’s because gum disease, a problem that often occurs if you don’t floss your teeth, is also linked to serious health problems like heart disease (including heart attack), stroke and diabetes.
Therefore, flossing your teeth every day could just end up helping you live a longer, healthier life. If you aren’t sure if you’re flossing properly our Granger, IN, dentist would be happy to show you the next time you’re in the office. Of course, WebMD also offers up this handy flossing video.
What happens if I don’t floss?
If you decide that you’re not going to floss your teeth (a decision we really hope you rethink), you risk dealing with two potentially serious problems: cavities and gum disease. This is because you’re not removing plaque and bacteria from between teeth and along the gum line. If bacteria aren’t removed, this causes inflammation of the gums.
If you start to notice puffy, inflamed and bleeding gums, this is a telltale sign of gingivitis. Since gingivitis can progress into periodontal disease if it isn’t properly treated, it’s important to turn to our Granger, IN, family dentist as soon as possible.
With non-emergency dental visits on pause due to Covid-19, there is no better time to start flossing (if you weren’t before) and adopting good oral hygiene practices for the whole family. Of course, if an emergency does arise, it’s comforting to know that our Granger, IN, general dentist and his team at Advance Dental are here to help. For dental emergencies call us at (574) 271-9910.