4 Reasons to Floss Every Single Day

Ever since you were a child, your parents and dentist told you that you should be flossing every single day in order to maintain optimal oral hygiene. However, a lot of people only do so when they have a stubborn piece of food stuck between their teeth or a few days before their regular dental checkup. There are numerous reasons why you should be flossing daily. Continue reading to learn why flossing is so important.

Removing Plaque Buildup

Plaque is that sticky white substance that builds up along the gumline and on the surface of your teeth. To remove this, you need to brush and floss diligently. When you don’t, it can harden into tartar which can result in both cavities and periodontal disease. It is impossible to avoid plaque all together, but you can significantly limit it by keeping up a good oral hygiene routine. This way, it won’t be as likely to cause you any issues going forward.

Reduces Discoloration of the Teeth

No one wants their pearly whites to be any color other than bright and white. When you have buildups of plaque and tartar between the teeth, this can cause them to appear more yellowed and discolored. For people who use teeth whitening treatments, they work much more affectively on teeth that don’t have a sticky layer of plaque on them. If you still have some of this sticky substance between your teeth, you will not be getting the best possible results that you’re looking for. When you floss beforehand, you are allowing the whitening agent to make more direct contact with different surfaces of your teeth. Ultimately, you will have a more uniform, whiter smile!

Prevents Periodontal Disease

When you don’t take the time to remove plaque from the gumline, you can eventually experience severe oral health issues. When plaque turns to tartar, it can irritate your gum tissue and lead to gingivitis. This means inflammation, irritation, and bleeding during or after brushing. Luckily, gingivitis is usually reversible. It’s when it progresses to periodontitis that you run into trouble. This infection can cause irreversible gum recession, loose teeth, tooth loss, and jawbone deterioration.

Fresher Breath

You don’t want to be walking around with gross-smelling breath. However, you will be if you aren’t removing food debris and plaque from between your teeth with dental floss often. The bacteria in your mouth will continue to linger and multiply. In addition to gum disease and cavities, you can expect to develop foul breath.

Flossing is necessary to maintain a healthy smile. By doing so daily, you can prevent oral health issues and show off a grin with pride!

About the Author

Dr. Roger Morton is an experienced dentist who has been working in the field for nearly two decades. He earned his dental doctorate from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Currently, he is affiliated with the American Dental Association, Texas Dental Association, and several other professional dental organizations. For more information on proper oral hygiene or to schedule an appointment at his office in Wylie, visit his website or call (972) 442-5599.