How often do you floss? If you were to ask this question to most of your friends, the chances are that only a handful of them would say they do it daily. In fact, only 30% of Americans do. This is a problem.
Think about it: When you brush your teeth, you’re only reaching some areas of your pearly whites, at the beginning and the end of the day. However you eat several times a day and with each meal, you’re leaving food particles to decompose in-between your teeth. If you don’t take care of it, they become a breeding ground for bacteria. This in turn will cause plaque to build up.
The story doesn’t end there. Those gnarly little microorganisms will also cause your gums to become inflamed. This paves the way for gum disease.
Such is the importance of flossing. It’s such a simple task that, when done correctly, will save you from a lot of hassle in the future.
Bleeding gums are often a sign of gingivitis , which is an early stage of gum disease. If left untreated, it may cause tooth decay and eventual tooth loss. How many dates do you think you’ll get on Tinder if you have no teeth?
A good starting point to prevent all of this from happening is to visit your dentist for regular teeth cleanings. In doing so less plaque will buildup, which in turn should will help to reduce or eliminate the bleeding. And then you’ll be more likely to floss – right?
Tear several inches of floss and wrap it around your fingers. Insert between your teeth, and slide it in up-and-down, and from side-to-side. Gently wrap the floss around each tooth , including the very back ones, and pull it out.
Do this every single day. Make it as much of a habit as brushing your teeth. It doesn’t matter if you do it before or after brushing , just get it done. And if you do it at night, before going to bed, you won’t have festering bacteria partying in your mouth until sunrise.
Whether you just need to have a regular teeth cleaning to treat gum disease, or even if you just need learn more about how to floss correctly, we’re here to help. Call us or schedule an appointment online.
The post When Should I Floss? appeared first on Impeccable Smiles.
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