A surprising number of people ask whether they should floss every day. The short answer is yes. Experts recommend that you brush your teeth for at least two minutes twice a day and that you floss at least once. You should also visit a dentist regularly, ideally once every six months.
A dentist can help you identify any oral health issues and deal with them before they become more serious. Alongside this, you can see a specialist, such as this Little Bay Invisalign expert, and get the best brace possible to align your teeth.
Don’t forget, while teeth respond faster when young, you can have your teeth realigned at any age.
Removing Debris
Flossing allows you to remove debris from between your teeth. This is the place that is hardest to reach, regardless of whether you use a manual or electric toothbrush. Brushing and even mouthwash are effective at removing 85% of the debris in your mouth. However, anything left behind will react with bacteria in your mouth to create acid.
This attacks your teeth. If the debris remains trapped it will form a sticky barrier on your teeth. This is known as plaque and it gradually hardens into tartar. At this point, bacteria are trapped inside the plaque and will happily attack your teeth and gums. It is one of the leading causes of gum disease which, if left untreated, can cause gums to recede and your tooth to become loose. Ultimately they can fall out.
Smelly Breath
Flossing daily means you are doing your best to maintain dental health. After all, it’s impossible to visit a dentist every day. By flossing daily you’re doing your part to look after your teeth, make it easier for your dentist, and increases the chances of you keeping your teeth into old age.
But, flossing can also help to reduce the likelihood of bad breath. Bad breath can be caused by various different things. One of the most common is simply trapped food particles that are slowly degrading inside your mouth.
Flossing removes the particles, leaving your mouth cleaner and can eliminate bad breath.
Increased Confidence
Experts have confirmed there is a link between your smile and your confidence. It’s easy to smile when you have great teeth and this makes you feel more confident and capable of tackling a wide variety of issues and situations.
By flossing your teeth you’ll be doing everything possible to create a great smile and boost your confidence levels. The best part is that flossing only takes a few minutes each day and yet it can dramatically improve your chances of success in almost any field.
Alternate Techniques
The standard approach to flossing is to use a piece of string and slide it between your teeth. You can then use a see-saw motion to remove the plaque as you bring the floss up and out of your teeth.
However, if you struggle with this or your gums bleed easily, you can use a water flosser. Pressurized water is squirted between your teeth to remove debris. It’s effective and gentler on your gums.
Leave a Reply