Okemos, Lansing, East Lansing MI
It’s been estimated that roughly one-third of American adults do not floss at all. Are you one of them? We know that our dentist recommends we floss daily, and yet, flossing tends to be an easy thing for many to overlook. Read on as Okemos’ award-winning dentist Dr. Christine Tenaglia provides 4 reasons why the use of a little string plays an integral part in your oral and overall health.
Why is flossing important?
Brushing is great for maintaining general tooth and mouth hygiene, but flossing is most helpful for cleaning between your teeth. This is why dentists strongly recommend incorporating it into your daily oral routine. Let’s have a look at some major health benefits that a good habit of daily flossing provides us!
Flossing prevents gum disease
If you’re just starting to floss, or floss sporadically, it’s not uncommon to notice bleeding from your gums. Don’t use this as a reason to stop flossing. Bleeding gums is often an indicator that more flossing is needed, not less. If you floss regularly, you should experience this bleeding less. Post-floss bleeding often indicates the accumulation of bacteria, which leads to tartar buildups, and the inflammation that causes gum disease. Left untreated, gum disease can advance to periodontitis, which can lead to eventual tooth loss. Flossing is key to your fight against periodontal disease.
Flossing prevents heart disease
Science has established a link between untreated gum disease and heart disease. How does this happen? The plaque and bacteria from infected gums filter into the bloodstream, where they can attach to blood vessels or the walls of arteries, causing coronary artery disease. Research from Harvard found that a person with gum disease can have two to three times the risk of a heart attack, stroke or serious cardiovascular event.
Flossing reduces bad breath
If you don’t floss, you’re leaving food particles between your teeth in those nooks and crannies that a toothbrush cannot reach. Eventually, those food particles deteriorate and decay in your mouth, emitting a foul odor that affects your breath. Flossing keeps that plaque and bacteria at bay and, more importantly, off your teeth.
Flossing brightens your smile
Flossing minimizes the plaque and bacteria in your mouth, which helps to foster a brighter, healthier-looking smile. Brushing and flossing consistently, as recommended by the ADA, helps to keep those chompers as pearly-white in appearance as possible!
Dental Services in Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing
If you have any questions about flossing or other aspects of your dental care, a member of the team of oral health professionals at Tenaglia Smiles can review flossing techniques or answer any other questions you have during a regular check-up. That’s just another reason why Michigan puts its trust in Christine Tenaglia, DDS. Backed by over 25 years experience, Dr. Tenaglia seeks to provide efficient solutions to all your dental problems while ensuring a comfortable, pleasant experience.
Contact us online or feel free to call us today at (517) 347-6733 to schedule your appointment.