Reasons You Need to Floss

The dentist knows that no one really wants to floss his or her teeth. It is a boring, tedious job at best. With that in mind, why should you do it? There are some very big reasons to do so, in fact. Your oral hygiene regimen should include several key steps starting with brushing your teeth at least two times per day, using a mouth rinse two times per day and flossing. In addition to this, you also need to visit your dental care provider at least one time every six months. By doing this, you will increase your dental health, ward off worrisome conditions and feel great about your health. 

Why The Dentist Wants You to Floss

Flossing is the process of using a very thin dental wire to clean out the area in between your teeth and right at the gum line. It is not possible to clean this area any other way at home. Without floss, you cannot get in between teeth where they nearly touch. You also cannot get near enough to the gum line, which is one of the most important areas to cleanse. Mouth rinses cannot remove enough of the stuck on plaque and your toothbrush just does not fit, no matter what style you may have. In other words, you just need to get down lower and in between more efficiently.
What happens if you do not do this? The first problem is that you will have bad breath since this is where plaque-causing bacteria thrive. Unless you can remove them, they will release gas, which is what smells bad. By flossing, you scrape away at those bacteria.

In addition to this, flossing also allows you to remove much of the debris left behind in the mouth. This debris comes from the food you eat. When you do not remove it from your mouth, especially in these hard to reach places, it becomes food for the bacteria that thrive in your mouth. This means the bacteria can multiply faster than they could otherwise. 

If bacteria grows uncontrollably like this, it can lead to dental health concerns you will need to see your dentist for treatment of. This includes conditions such as gum disease, periodontal disease and gingivitis, just to name a few. The more that you avoid flossing, the more likely it is for the bacteria to continue to develop in your mouth, which ultimately leads to painful conditions that are hard to treat.

The good news is that by flossing at least one time per day, you reduce your risks of developing this condition. You end up with a clean mouth with the right level of protection, as long as you follow any other recommendations your dentist provides to you. All it takes is a few minutes per day to floss your teeth and to remove all of the trouble that could occur. For many, it is worth the extra bit of work to get the job done for good.