We are all guilty of skipping a day or two flossing at times. But it is very important that we get ourselves back on track, and maintain our daily flossing routines. Because no matter how well we brush our teeth, we cannot get our mouths as clean as we would be able to by combining flossing and brushing.
Here are some key reasons to floss diligently, straight from our O’Fallon dentists…
Your at-home oral hygiene routine is designed to minimize oral plaque and bacteria. Brushing is great for buffing plaque from the front and back of your teeth. To really get to the sides of your teeth, however, you need to be using floss. With floss you can get rid of built up plaque that is stuck in those very hard to reach spots between teeth. And don’t forget about the top of your gum line—that is a key spot for plaque to accumulate.
Timely flossing is also crucial for neutralizing plaque before it truly takes root. Plaque starts off as a sticky and soft coating in the mouth. However, over time plaque transforms and calcifies. It becomes a hard substance that is stuck to the dental enamel, and thus very difficult to remove. So it makes sense that patients need to floss every day—they need to get rid of as much plaque as possible before it has time to calcify.
Flossing is also a great step toward preventing bad breath. Patients who suffer from periodontal disease are likely to battle hard-to-treat bad breath. When you floss regularly, you lower your chance of suffering from periodontal disease and being saddled with those unwanted symptoms.
Take control of your smile with diligent at-home daily oral hygiene care. Our O’Fallon dentist office is here to provide you with all of the information and guidance that you need!