When Dentists Say Floss, Here’s Why You Should Listen

If you ask dentists what one thing patients could do to improve their overall oral health most dramatically, they’ll all say the same thing; regular flossing. We all know this right? We know that flossing is an integral part of maintaining good oral hygiene. So how come so many people fail to incorporate it into their routine?

People report that they feel it is tedious, too much work to do when they’re just trying to get out the door in the morning, or on the flip side, just trying to get in bed at night. Many report that flossing leaves their gums sore, or they get alarmed by the sight of blood in the sink. It’s understandable that this might scare you away from the process, but if flossing causes pain or blood, its only more proof that you need to be doing it.

Though it can seem like a lot of work at first, it’s actually a quick and simple process once you’ve become used to it. As for the pain or blood, those are caused by inflamed gums, which is a sure sign that you haven’t been flossing. If you keep going, you should see these both symptoms disappear in a day or two. If the problem persists, then you should probably visit the dentist to have it checked out.

Need more convincing? Flossing removes bacteria build up in places that your tooth brush can’t reach, especially underneath the gums. If left unattended, this bacteria can cause embarrassing bad breath or turn into tartar which can only be removed by dentists. The most important reason for flossing though, is the prevention of gum disease. When you don’t floss, plaque build-up can lead to inflamed gums which are vulnerable to infection. This can lead to gum disease, or periodontitis.

One of the foremost consequences of gum disease is the loss of tooth and bone in the mouth. This is a scary prospect on its own, but what’s worse, it can also lead to problems with the heart, the liver, and can have terrible repercussions on your unborn baby if you are pregnant.

Dentists aren’t just being sticklers when they try to make sure you floss. They’re trying to protect your health. Keep this in mind going forward and it may help you to incorporate flossing into your routine if you haven’t already. If you still find it difficult to keep up with, look around at your different options. There are a wide variety of flosses on the market, and you might that one is easier to use over another.

There are also quite a few flossing aides on the market now. There are a great number of threaders and flossing picks out there, and you may find that you like using one of these better than using traditional floss. However, when trying a new product, be sure to do a little research to make sure that dentists have approved it as a flossing substitution. However you end up getting the job done, flossing is an important step in protecting your teeth and your health in general and it should not be skipped.