21 Jan

Is Flossing Actually Beneficial?

There has been some recent discussion in the news media suggesting that flossing may not be all that important as part of preventative dental care. We’d like to weigh in on the debate! Lifetime Family Dental has been serving Gilbert, Arizona and the surrounding areas for 10 years, and each day patients enter our offices whose teeth and gums display the benefits of flossing. Here are a few things to consider in light of reports that have been circulating:  

Decrease the bad bacteria surrounding your gums that lead to plaque. Throughout your day as you eat and drink, bacteria build up around your teeth and gums. These bacteria can lead to plaque and turn into a more harmful substance called tartar. Flossing breaks up this buildup of bacteria in your mouth and helps to prevent the development of plaque and tartar.

Increase the overall health of your gums. Flossing gently between each tooth along the gum line cleans your teeth and lowers your risk for gum disease. Without regular flossing, gums can become sensitive and even bleed, potentially resulting in gingivitis or periodontitis. If gingivitis has developed and is caught early enough, regular brushing and flossing may reverse its growth.  

Brushing alone is not enough. Brushing is an effective way of cleaning your teeth, but on its own, it cannot remove food particles that get lodged in those hard-to-reach places between your teeth. Nor can brushing alone prevent the deeper build-up of bacteria along your gum line.  

If our word isn’t enough, both the Department of Health and Human Services and the American Dental Association reaffirm the importance of flossing as part of preventative oral health care. Lifetime Family Dental is always available for all your dental needs, but with proper brushing, flossing, and good dental care at home, we probably won’t need to see you until your next bi-annual cleaning!

Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (1/21/2018) Mateus Lunardi Dutra (Flickr)