From the time that you had teeth to brush, your parents and your dentist talked about flossing your teeth. The daily dental hygiene routine was repeated, over and over again: brush, floss, rinse, brush, floss, rinse, etc. It’s easy to understand that brushing and rinsing work to give you clean teeth and fresh smelling breath. So, what are the added benefits of flossing? In a word, plenty. Let’s look at what those benefits are.

1. Plaque Removal
The bristles of your toothbrush will help to clean away the bacterial film, called plaque, from the front back, and chewing surfaces of your teeth. But, the bristles are not able to reach into the tight spaces between your teeth and under the gum lines. Flossing thread is thin and strong enough to reach those snug spaces and under the gum lines to aid in plaque removal. In addition to plaque removal, flossing also loosens and removes any food particles caught in the spaces between your teeth.

2. Prevent Gum Disease
When plaque and tartar are left to accumulate around the base of teeth, the substance can irritate the supporting gum lines. This can lead to swollen and bleeding gums, which can easily become gingivitis. Additionally, gum disease can weaken the support base of teeth that can cause you to lose healthy teeth. Flossing helps to loosen these materials so that they can be removed with brushing and rinsing. Plaque and tartar not removed with daily at-home care are removed during your semi-annual dental checkups and cleanings.

3. Frequency of Flossing
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that people floss their teeth twice a day, but that it is important to floss at least once a day. Some people prefer to floss in the morning while others prefer to floss before going to bed with a freshly cleaned mouth. Either way, a daily routine of flossing will support the removed of plaque, tartar, and food particles. The flossing action will help to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.

4. Cost Savings
By adding one minute of dedicated flossing to your daily dental hygiene, you are prolonging the health of your teeth and gums. By preventing oral health problems, you will be saving lots of dental expenses that may impact those who do not include a daily flossing. Your twice annual dental cleanings and examinations will be a breeze and your smile will continue to remain gleaming.