Most dentists have to remind patients to floss. And most patients will tell the dentist, “I do, I do!” But realistically some people might be telling a fib because the dentist knows otherwise. He or she sees the effects of not flossing enough!
So why is it important to routinely floss your teeth? If you don’t, you’ll probably get inflammation from dental decay and gum disease; Bacteria ends up entering your circulatory system and causing health problems– ugh!
Health Issues Caused By Lack of Flossing
Could not flossing lead to problems with various organs in the body? Yes– when you’ve got inflamed teeth and gums, this could lead to heart disease, diabetes, pneumonia, dementia, kidney disease, and, men, get this– even erectile dysfunction.
While most people routinely brush their teeth twice a day, for some reason they “forget” to floss or avoid doing so for whatever reason. But flossing is as important as brushing because it gets to harder-to-reach areas and cleans them out. Flossing helps get rid of plaque on the teeth which otherwise attracts bacteria and then tartar builds up and eventually you’re dealing with oral disease such as gingivitis (gum issues) or periodontitis (roots of the teeth issues).
When Should You Floss?
Ideally, floss before you go to bed each night or first thing each morning. At least try and make it a habit to floss once a day no matter what time of the day (or night) so that you’re cleaning out those spaces in between teeth and around the gums that your brush may not adequately clean. And if you have kids in your household, get them in the habit of flossing too– make it fun and offer rewards when they do it without being asked.
Not sure how to floss properly? When you’re at Genesee Dental in Batavia, NY, ask to be shown how to do it from a professional. Call Genesee Dental with questions about our services– the number is 585-343-1113.