Brushing your teeth at least twice a day helps keep your smile clean and healthy. But did you know that flossing is also essential for your oral health? Regardless of how carefully you brush, you can’t remove bacteria, plaque, and food debris caught between your teeth. Flossing gets to those hard-to-reach areas and cleans them out, which helps keep dental disease at bay. Here’s all you need to know about flossing and how it contributes to long-term healthy smiles.
Flossing Stops Decay Between Teeth
Removing plaque and food debris from those hard-to-reach areas between the teeth prevents cavity-causing bacteria from flourishing and producing acids that erode the tooth enamel and cause decay and cavities.
Flossing Helps Prevent Periodontal (Gum) Disease
If not removed, plaque bacteria results in an inflammatory response that contributes to periodontal disease, the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. The earliest stage of gum disease called gingivitis can be reversed by brushing, flossing, and professional dental cleaning. If, however, the condition is not treated, it can progress and destroy the tissue and bone supporting the teeth, potentially leading to tooth loss.
Flossing Enhances Your Overall Health
Lowering your risk of gum disease has a direct impact on your overall health. Studies reveal a connection between periodontal disease and a host of serious health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, and problems during pregnancy.
Flossing Keeps Your Breath Fresh
Nothing compares to fresh-smelling breath to greet the world each day. Removing odor-causing plaque and food debris from between your teeth prevents bad breath (halitosis) and leaves you with a fresh and confident smile!
Flossing Keeps Your Smile Bright
Flossing is a great way to improve the appearance of your smile. It improves the health of your teeth and gums, leaving you with a long-term dazzling smile!
Healthy Habits for Healthy Smiles
While flossing helps promote healthy smiles, it is only one component of your comprehensive oral health care routine. That includes brushing your teeth thoroughly at least twice a day for at least two minutes, flossing at least once a day, consuming a healthy and balanced diet, drinking plenty of water, and visiting Dental Care of Greensboro for your twice-a-year dental exams and cleanings. Maintaining healthy oral care habits will translate to long-term healthy smiles.
Preventive Dental Care in Greensboro
Contact Dental Care of Greensboro to schedule your routine preventive dental exam and cleaning. We are happy to answer your questions and offer tips on proper oral hygiene practices to keep dental disease at bay. We look forward to working alongside you to ensure you enjoy healthy smiles for many years to come. Call us and schedule your appointment today!