The answer to why you should floss is actually quite simple. Flossing removes the food, plaque and tartar from those tight spaces between your teeth that you cannot access with either your toothbrush or mouthwash. While brushing is effective at removing the bacteria-laden film of plaque from the exposed surfaces of your teeth, it is much more likely that tooth decay will take hold where the stubborn bits of food and bacteria are left unchecked and allowed to grow uninhibited between your teeth. Flossing is the most effective way to remove that food and plaque and help prevent cavities and gum disease from forming.
While the importance of flossing seems obvious to most of us, a surprisingly low percentage of Americans actually floss on a daily basis. According to the American Dental Association, only around 50% of Americans actually do floss each day as recommended. This means that most Americans are leaving their homes every morning with teeth that are only partially clean.
Would you leave the house in the morning if your shower got your body only partially clean? Most people wouldn’t. So why would you leave your mouth only partially clean? The American Dental Association recommends that we floss our teeth every day before brushing. By flossing before brushing we can actually make our brushing much more effective.
While many of us think that oral hygiene is merely cosmetic, the truth is that there is much more at stake than just a bright smile and fresh breath. The only way to avoid serious dental conditions like gingivitis and advanced periodontal disease is to maintain good oral health. Diseases like gingivitis not only cause inflamed and painful gums but can result in toxins forming which, when released into the blood stream, can even have a detrimental affect on your heart.
Scientists have found a high correlation between gum disease and heart disease. By maintaining good oral hygiene, brushing and flossing every day, you can actually reduce your chance of suffering a heart attack. Can you think of a better reason to take a few minutes to floss each day?
