Don’t Forget to Floss!

Most of us understand the importance of brushing our teeth on a regular basis, but what you may not know is that flossing is an extremely important part of any good dental hygiene routine. In fact, flossing may be just as important – if not more so – as brushing.

Although brushing your teeth is effective in removing stains and bacteria from the surface of your teeth, a toothbrush cannot always remove food from between teeth. That’s why flossing is so important. When food gets trapped between teeth, bacteria quickly form. Once bacteria are present, they can harden and become plaque, which eventually turns into tartar. This material can only be removed by a dental hygienist or a dentist. Tartar buildup can make it next to impossible to effectively clean between your teeth, which can lead to gingivitis – a precursor to advanced gum disease. If your gums are swollen, tender and/or bleed easily, you may be experiencing the early signs of gingivitis.

Fortunately, there’s a simple way to avoid the problem altogether: just remember to floss at least once a day. This applies to children as well as adults. Young kids under the age of 10 or so may not be good at flossing on their own, so it’s important that you floss between the teeth of your little ones as soon as they develop teeth that are close together.

There are a variety of different types of floss available – narrow, wide, waxed, unwaxed, flavored, etc. Choose whatever floss you prefer, but just remember: don’t forget to floss!

Resource: http://www.mouthhealthy.org