When you think about your daily routine for keeping your mouth healthy, brushing your teeth likely gets all the attention. And while brushing is definitely important, it’s only part of the story. Flossing is a simple habit that can make a huge difference in your oral health.
Flossing does what your toothbrush can’t. It cleans the tight spaces between your teeth and along your gums where bristles just can’t reach. By adding flossing to your routine, you’re fighting bad breath, preventing painful gum disease, and stopping cavities before they even start. Let’s take a closer look at how this quick daily step can make such a big impact.
What Does Flossing Do for Your Oral Health?
You already know that brushing your teeth is important, but you’re only doing half the job if you’re not flossing. Let’s break down exactly how flossing helps you maintain fresh breath, healthy gums, and strong teeth.
Stop Bad Breath
Just like brushing, flossing helps remove plaque that forms in your mouth. This bacteria clings to your teeth, gums, and even your tongue. When you don’t remove it, plaque can cause your breath to smell bad. The more bacteria that builds up, the worse your breath can get.
One of the biggest causes of bad breath is food particles and plaque stuck between your teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach. Flossing gets rid of the hidden gunk that causes odors in those tight spaces. By flossing daily, you’re cleaning your teeth and freshening your breath.
Prevent Gum Disease
Gum disease is a common but serious infection of your gums. It often starts with gingivitis. Your gums might look red, feel swollen, or bleed when you brush. Gingivitis can turn into a more serious infection that makes your gums pull away from your teeth. Over time, this can cause loose teeth, tooth loss, and even bone loss in your jaw.
Plaque buildup is usually to blame for gum disease. Plaque hardens into tartar, irritates your gums, and makes them prone to infection. Tartar can’t be removed with brushing alone. You’ll need a dentist or hygienist to clean it off. Flossing daily is one of the best ways to prevent plaque from building up in the first place, especially under your gumline and between your teeth where your brush can’t reach.
Prevent Tooth Decay
Plaque doesn’t just harm your gums because it also damages your teeth. The bacteria in plaque produce acid when they feed on sugars from food and drinks left in your mouth. This acid wears away your tooth enamel. Enamel doesn’t grow back and that’s when cavities can form.
Cavities often start in between teeth, where bristles can’t clean effectively. A small cavity can turn into a bigger hole, cause pain, and even lead to infections or tooth loss. Flossing helps remove plaque from those hard-to-reach spots, protecting your enamel and preventing decay before it starts.
Visit Coastal General Dentistry for a thorough dental cleaning today. Call our Virginia Beach dentists at 757-216-9914 or request an appointment online.