{"id":21,"date":"2018-08-15T21:16:32","date_gmt":"2018-08-15T21:16:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oldschooldental.com\/blog\/?p=21"},"modified":"2018-09-11T21:21:49","modified_gmt":"2018-09-11T21:21:49","slug":"flossing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oldschooldental.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/15\/flossing\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Flossing Really That Important?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"womanOften, we see patients who are almost religious about brushing their teeth \u2014 but they\u2019re not so enthusiastic about flossing. They might think that brushing is enough to keep their mouth clean, or maybe they feel that flossing is tedious or even painful. Is it okay to leave this activity out of your daily oral hygiene routine? Well, not really. Let\u2019s talk about why flossing is essential for anyone who wants to maintain a healthy, fresh smile.<\/p>\n

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Floss Isn\u2019t Just for Removing Food<\/strong><\/p>\n

After you eat barbecue or some fresh Ohio sweet corn, you might reach for some floss to get those annoying bits of food out of your teeth. But if the only time you floss is when you can actually feel substances stuck between your pearly whites, you\u2019re risking major damage to your smile.<\/p>\n

Throughout the day, bacteria in your mouth interact with the foods you eat and create plaque, which eventually hardens into tartar and leads to cavities. When you brush your teeth, you\u2019re cleaning away plaque from about 60 percent of their exposed surfaces. The other 40 percent is between <\/em>the teeth, in those tight spaces that your toothbrush has no way to reach.<\/p>\n

The Consequences of Not Flossing<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not only does neglecting flossing increase your risk of cavities, but it can have aesthetic consequences as well. Just like you don\u2019t want to be the person with food between their teeth, you also don\u2019t want to be the person whose teeth are yellow around the edges. That\u2019s right \u2014 plaque between your teeth can contribute to discoloration.<\/p>\n

Not flossing can also increase your risk of gum disease. If plaque sneaks into the periodontal (gum) tissue, your gums can easily become inflamed. Without proper care, gum disease can lead to persistent bad breath, bleeding and painful gums, and even tooth loss.<\/p>\n

The risks of not flossing are especially serious for individuals with crooked teeth. When teeth are not properly aligned, it becomes even more difficult for your toothbrush to thoroughly clean them. Flossing is often the only way to achieve a truly clean mouth.<\/p>\n

Become a Habitual Flosser<\/strong><\/p>\n

Despite the benefits of flossing, you still might hesitate to incorporate it into your daily routine. Let\u2019s touch on some of the reasons why so many people don\u2019t thoroughly clean between their teeth each day:<\/p>\n