Do I Really Need to Floss? Your Dentist in Carmel Offers Insight!

Nobody has to stand over you to make sure that you brush your teeth at least one or two times a day. You do it because you know how essential brushing is to the health and aesthetics of your ivories. In addition, you appreciate the fact that it rids your mouth of awful morning breath. One function you’re not too convinced of the necessity of is flossing. But your dentist in Carmel cautions you to rethink your stance. As you continue reading, he’ll explain why it’s an important component that should be included in your oral hygiene routine and how it serves as an asset to your preventive care.

Why Is Flossing so Important?

Here are some numbers that’ll put flossing into the right perspective for you:

• Brushing your teeth only covers 60 percent of the surface of your ivories.
• To address the remaining 40 percent that includes the sides of your teeth – from the gum line up to the top of the crown – you need to floss.

When you consider flossing from the above standpoint, the picture instantly becomes clear on why it’s so important. Your toothbrush can’t maneuver into the tight spaces between your teeth where leftover debris and bacteria can hang out safely to fester and cause havoc to your oral health.

What Does Flossing Protect You From?

By getting into the hard-to-reach spaces, flossing eliminates a great deal of the damage that can be done by bacteria, which includes:

• Cavities
• Gum Disease
• Tooth Loss
• Oral Cancer
• Bad Breath

How Often Should You Floss?

By no means should flossing be considered as a substitute to brushing your teeth? Instead, they should be done in tandem at least two times a day. Optimally, though, you’d want to brush and floss after every meal to enjoy the maximum benefits they have to offer.

Is There a Correct Way to Floss?

There certainly are correct techniques and steps that you want to follow when flossing, including:

• Withdraw roughly 18 to 24 inches of floss to start with.
• Wrap one to two inches of line around your index and middle fingers on each hand.
• Carefully slide the line down between your teeth, making a ‘C’ shape around each tooth, and move the floss back and forth.
• Be sure to use a fresh portion of the floss each time you descend between your teeth.

By adding this simple step to your oral hygiene regimen, you can feel secure in knowing that your oral health is better protected. And to take your level of care to the next horizon, just reach out to your local dentist to schedule an appointment for a cleaning and examination.

About the Author

Dr. David J. Kristoff earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from The Indiana University School of Dentistry and has since gone on to deliver expert and comprehensive care for over 30 years. Still, he remains hungry to expand his knowledge and skillset, which is why he participates in continuing education programs. Dr. Kristoff can be reached for more information about his services through his website.