Do you floss regularly? This common question pops up every time you go for general dentistry checkups. However, the answer is not always yes for most people. The American Dental Association notes that although most adults in the U.S. remember to brush their teeth at least twice daily, fewer people are aware of the benefits of flossing daily.
As such, it’s essential to follow the recommendation of flossing at least once daily. According to a recent study, proper flossing can reduce the risk of cavities by 40% and enhance overall oral health.
The Surprising Benefits of Flossing Daily
Brushing your teeth and flossing regularly go hand in hand. Brushing your teeth only cleans part of your mouth, while flossing gets in between the small spaces of your teeth. While regular professional teeth cleanings can aid when flossing doesn’t occur, daily flossing works best to prevent future problems.
This is why flossing has positive impacts on several conditions, such as:
Prevention of Gum Diseases
Flossing eliminates plaque from your teeth by removing bacteria at the base. When not removed in time, plaque solidifies and becomes tartar, which can cause inflammation and infection of the gums. Tartar destroys your tooth’s enamel and soft gum tissue, causing gingivitis and periodontitis.
Prevention of Bad Breath
Millions of people suffer from bad breath. Fortunately, flossing helps to get rid of bad breath.
In most cases, the cause of bad breath is usually the remains of food particles in your gum line and in between your teeth. Flossing removes food particles that decompose and cause additional bacteria in your mouth, leading to bad breath.
Prevention of Heart Diseases
It might seem unlikely that the hygiene status of your oral cavity can have an impact on your heart. However, there is a connection between poor oral hygiene and heart diseases.
Since the benefits of flossing daily reduce the food particles between your teeth and gums, you’ll successfully prevent gum inflammation. As a result, it reduces the chances of bacteria getting into your bloodstream.
Research indicates that when mouth bacteria get into the bloodstream, they damage the lining of your blood vessels. Therefore, this makes you vulnerable to heart attack, stroke, and other heart diseases.
Control of Diabetes
Flossing is one of the best ways to keep diabetes at bay. With flossing, minimal bacteria from your mouth enter your bloodstream. Thus, it keeps your glucose level stable, hence preventing the dire consequences of glucose fluctuations in diabetic patients.
Improves Erectile Dysfunction
Not many men are aware of the fact that flossing can boost their performance in bed. A study published in the Journal of Periodontology shows that inflammation of your gums increases your chances of having erectile dysfunction.
As earlier stated, without flossing, you’re more vulnerable to bacteria that cause dental diseases. When gum-disease-causing bacteria can impair endothelial cells. When there is damage to your endothelial cells, there is no good flow of blood, thus causing erectile dysfunction.
Get a Picture-Perfect Smile at Splendid Dental Bellaire
At our state-of-the-art dental facility, you’ll receive the best treatment for a wide variety of dental conditions. Furthermore, our friendly staff will provide you with sufficient information to help you in maintaining your oral hygiene at home.
At Splendid Dental Bellaire, you’ll access expert advice in a variety of areas, such as:
- Teeth whitening
- Dental crowns and bridges
- Oral surgery
- Fluoride treatment services
- Periodontics
- Sedation and dental anxiety treatment
Overall, you can’t reap the full benefits of brushing your teeth unless you accept that there are vast benefits of flossing daily. Start flossing today. If you want to learn more about flossing or wish to schedule an appointment, contact us at 713-244-7797.