Know The Importance of Flossing

healthy-smile
By Heritage Dental - Katy

Flossing has become an important procedure for those who wish to maintain a healthy smile. The benefits of flossing are immense. However, not everyone likes to do flossing due to the significant time involved in the flossing process. Not flossing however will place you at the risk of facing dental issues in the mouth such as Gingivitis and cavities. In this article, we will take you through various reasons why you should perform flossing of your teeth. 

What Is Flossing?

Flossing is the process of cleaning the area between the teeth and the gum by making use of a thin filament. The thin filament is commonly called dental floss which is usually made up of Teflon, nylon, or silk. It is available for purchase both as a string or as a ribbon form. Depending on the requirements, you can choose slightly waxed, waxed, or unwaxed dental floss. If you are someone having a huge gap in between the teeth, then ribbon floss would be ideal. However, if the teeth closely adjoin one another, then string floss is one you should prefer. 

Why can’t brushing alone help?

If you think brushing alone can clean your teeth, the answer is ‘no’. Out of the five surfaces present in the teeth, the brush is capable of cleaning only three surfaces of the teeth. The food debris may accumulate on the other two surfaces which cannot be cleaned by a brush. Ignoring cleaning of those areas will result in the accumulation of plaque which upon hardening leads to tartar formation within the teeth. 

Impact of Plaque and Tartar

Tartar is usually yellow-colored or brown-colored and is a hard mineral that is found above the teeth’s gum line. Since it bonds tightly with the enamel, the tartar caused due to the accumulation of plaque can lead to various types of oral diseases. To avoid this, regular dental exams are important for your oral health. Some of the most common types of oral diseases include gum diseases, gingival inflammation, tooth cavities, etc. You should ensure that you do not have gingivitis inflammation as not getting proper treatment could lead to periodontitis which could cause inflammation of the gumline and weakening of bones that support the teeth. 

Relevance of Flossing

Regular flossing will remove plaque from accumulating in your teeth. It also removes bad breath that is caused due to oral diseases. Those who floss regularly are at less risk of getting infected with bacteria compared to those who do not floss. According to studies, approximately 80% of plaque problems can be resolved using dental flossing. 

If you are looking for the best dental services and gum disease treatment in Katy, Texas; book an appointment or schedule a visit at Heritage Dental.