There are oral health and overall health benefits to flossing daily. Some reports explain that daily flossing not only decreases your risk of cavities between your teeth but also reduces your chance of gum disease. Floss once a day regularly, and you’ll notice an improvement in your breath too. But there are proven benefits to your heart and brain as well. Some studies link daily flossing to improved blood glucose stabilization, which could benefit people with diabetes. But is there a specific time of day that you should floss? Should you floss before or after you brush? A popular family dentist in Beaufort, Dr. Chris Mohler, answers these questions and more on the blog today.
First, let’s explore why flossing is beneficial to your teeth and gums
Interproximal cleaning or cleaning between your teeth removes oral bacteria and food particles responsible for bad breath, cavities, and gum disease. Flossing is essential for your mouth because it is the equivalent of brushing between your teeth. While brushing twice a day is necessary to maintain your oral health, your toothbrush can’t reach those tiny areas between your teeth or below your gum line. Therefore, if you deal with embarrassingly bad breath all of the time or halitosis, start flossing your teeth every day and experience the difference it can make. However, if your chronic bad breath persists, consider seeing a dentist near you in Bluffton because it could be an indicator of something more serious.
Why you should floss your teeth every day
It’s common for patients to ask whether flossing is worth the effort. Our response is, yes! If you skip flossing and only brush your teeth, you miss cleaning about one-third of the surfaces of your teeth. Most people would never only wash two-thirds of their body or cook their dinner two-thirds of the way done. So, why would you treat your oral health any differently? Flossing is the only way to clean between your teeth, so don’t skip this step every day.
How flossing helps protect your overall health
Daily flossing provides benefits to not only your teeth and gums but your entire body. Research shows a strong link between an increased risk of cardiovascular events, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and fluctuating blood glucose levels in non-flossers or those with gum disease. It starts with an accumulation of oral bacteria. We all have it, but how often and consistently you practice good oral hygiene accounts for how much bacteria are in your mouth and the extent of their damage. Ideally, you should brush twice a day and floss daily to remove oral bacteria, reducing the chance of eroding dental enamel or infecting the gums and leading to gum disease. Therefore, the longer oral bacteria are left in your mouth and between your teeth, the more exposure to the acids they secret, and the possibility of gum disease increases.
What time of day should you floss?
Truthfully, floss your teeth when it fits your schedule the best. While you’ll receive the most benefit from flossing after your last meal of the day to avoid lingering bacteria for hours while you sleep, you’re not causing any harm by flossing at other times throughout the day. However, flossing before bed would be ideal.
What are the best flossing products?
Now that we’ve addressed when you should floss let’s discuss what flossing products are best. Honestly, traditional string floss provides the best benefits of flossing because it glides between your teeth easily without harming your gums. However, water flossers have increased in popularity because they are easier to use and are helpful for patients struggling with dexterity issues or that cannot fit their hands in their mouth. Choose any string floss that is most comfortable for you to use, although adding a water flosser helps clean around braces, under bridges, and around hard-to-reach areas in your mouth.
Family Dentist in Beaufort, Bluffton, and Hilton Head
Maintaining your oral health means a daily commitment to brushing and flossing. Skipping these two components or not doing them correctly is like working against the current, and your lack of oral care eventually catches up to you. Commit to proper oral care so that you can reap the lifelong benefits of healthy teeth and gums. If you’d like to learn more about ways to improve your oral health or find out the proper way to floss for maximum effectiveness, contact Chris Mohler, DDS, by calling (843) 522-1442. You can also reach out to us online.