Flossing only takes a few minutes a day but has a huge impact on oral health.  If you don’t floss a few minutes a day,  you miss cleaning up to 40% of your tooth surfaces and put yourself at risk of gum disease, plaque and tartar build-up and eventually tooth decay.

But how important is flossing?  The toothbrush does do a fantastic job and it must be used at least twice a day – but it can’t do the complete job.  Basically, each tooth has 5 surfaces and when you don’t floss, you miss at least two of them.  The affected areas in most cases are misaligned teeth with overlapping areas and the back of molars due to the difficulty of brushing. It’s really important to keep in mind that flossing is essential for gum health as well – around the gumline in particular there are hot spots for bacteria, plaque and debris which can cause tartar build up and eventual decay.

Have you ever looked into the sink after spitting out your toothpaste and seen blood?  It might be tempting to avoid flossing, but don’t.  Blood being present when you brush is a sign that you need to increase your flossing.  Bleeding from the gums can be a hint that you have early stage gum disease or gingivitis.  Left untreated it can become periodontitis which is a more serious condition that can lead to infection, abscesses or loss of bone and teeth.  If you flossing gently, thoroughly and regularly for a week the bleeding should stop.

Another advantage of flossing is the reduction of discolouring bacteria – which gives you a whiter brighter smile and can eliminate bad breath.   Flossing can make a huge difference to the health of your mouth, meaning you’ll not only spend less time in the dentist chair, but your 6monthly visits will be far less invasive.  By keeping cavities and decay at bay, you’re more likely to avoid dental surgery, limiting pain and costs.

So if you are concerned by the state of your gums, or need help with your flossing technique, call your Local Redcliffe Dentists at John Street Dental on 3284 4281 or Book Online today!