Do you get fed up of the Dentist asking you if you floss? Does is seem somewhat unimportant to you? What if I was to tell you that flossing is as important as brushing your teeth?.. By not flossing you are missing 40% of your tooth surface.
Some of you may have never been informed that you should be flossing; some of you may floss once in a while, some every day. It’s easy to think that by doing something which has no instant gratification, that it isn’t doing anything, especially if you’ve never been advised to floss!
A tooth has 5 surfaces; if you are not flossing you are missing at least 2 of those surfaces. Flossing reaches the parts of your teeth that a toothbrush cannot get to, so chances are if you are not flossing then there is or will be a build-up of plaque in between your teeth. Here comes the science! – Plaque generates acid. Acid can cause cavities. A cavity is a hole that gets bigger and deeper over time. A cavity can become sensitive, cause tooth ache and require a filling or even a root filling if it becomes deep enough and can thus cause a dental abscess and may even lead to losing a tooth. Cavities can also lead to gum disease. The implications of gum disease are bleeding gums; bad breath (known as gingivitis). If gingivitis is not treated, periodontitis can develop. In simple form this affects the tissues that support teeth and hold them in place, causing the bone in your jaw to decay, and yes that’s right, your teeth will become loose and may eventually fall out. If this doesn’t get you reaching for the floss I don’t know what will!
Not only will the above cause pain, discomfort and change in appearance, it will cost money to put right. So that couple of minutes it takes to floss each day could in fact keep your future bank balance healthy. If you are unsure of how to floss, a dentist can show you on your next check-up, or there are step by step guides available on Google videos. Your health is your most valuable possession – GET FLOSSING DAILY.
