3 Benefits of Flossing

Holiday meals are just around the corner and that means lots of delicious food! While enjoying our turkey and pies, it can be easy to neglect the habit of flossing, and though our bellies love the food we eat, our gums don’t always respond the same. The day after Thanksgiving also happens to be National Flossing Day, so our team is here to share with you a few of the many benefits of flossing daily.

Prevents Build Up

When your teeth are only brushed and not flossed, you are leaving behind extra food, plaque, and bacteria to sit on your teeth and gums. It doesn’t take long, and soon this plaque is accumulated on your teeth. When the particles aren’t removed it eventually hardens into something called tartar. Flossing daily is the easiest way to ensure this doesn’t happen by removing all food particles and bacteria from the cracks and crevices on the gum line.

Prevents Bad Breath

In case you needed another reason to floss once a day, flossing helps improve bad breath! Chewing gum and breath mints can only do so much, and will never cure the real problem at hand, which is often a lack of flossing. When food debris is trapped in between teeth, the bacteria left behind can create an unpleasant odor. Daily flossing goes beyond just brushing your teeth and tongue to prevent bad breath.

Prevents Gum Disease

When you floss, you are helping your body prevent issues within your mouth as well as your entire body. When buildup occurs, the plaque that sits on your teeth begins to slowly erode your soft gum tissue causing them to be inflamed and infected. This process is known as gum disease and can have serious consequences for your teeth as well as your whole body. An effective way to rid the problem before it begins is to remove plaque from the most vulnerable area of your gums – through flossing!

Whether you opt for traditional floss or a water pick, go ahead and make flossing a part of your daily routine. You will never regret taking preventative measures to care for your health, but you will regret not flossing one day if your teeth aren’t healthy enough to eat a delicious Thanksgiving meal! As always, our office is here for your dental needs and wishes you a Happy Thanksgiving!