Dental Flossing:
The Key to Good Oral Health

 We often get asked questions such as how often should I use dental floss, is dental flossing necessary, and what teeth should I floss? Our response is the cliche used by dentists the world over. You should only floss the teeth you want to keep! You see next to brushing, flossing is the most important thing you can do to ensure good oral health.

Brushing and flossing both serve the same purpose - both mechanically remove bacteria build-up from the teeth and gums. Removing bacteria is the primary goal of good oral health. If the bacteria is not removed plaque forms. Over time, this plaque turns into a hard substance called tartar. Once tartar build up occurs, it allows for increased levels of more dangerous type of bacteria to build up within tartar.

These bacteria produce toxins which irritate and cause inflammation of the gums. This is known as gingivitis. Untreated gingivitis leads to periodontal disease - a condition where bacterial toxins invade not only the gums but also the bones and the structures supporting the teeth. This can lead to bone loss, loose teeth, and teeth that fall out. Periodontal disease often requires more extensive and expensive treatment.

Another reason to rid the mouth of bacteria is the fact that bacteria in the mouth are responsible for bad breath. Bacteria break down food particles left after we eat creating volatile sulfur compounds. These sulfur compounds are responsible for bad breath requiring the use of more powerful bad breath products to remove the stench.

By brushing we rid the mouth of bacteria reducing the risk of gingivitis and periodontal disease. We also help ensure that our breath remains fresh smelling.

If we only brush however, we miss the bacteria that reside on tooth surfaces that the toothbrush can not reach. These include the spaces in between teeth. Here bacteria will be allowed to grow uninhibited leading to tartar formation, gingivitis, periodontal disease, and tooth decay. It is also a great place for bacteria to rest while they create foul smelling sulfur compounds.

Flossing is a key component to any good oral hygiene program. The American Dental Association recommends that you floss at least once a day. Brushing without flossing is like washing only 70% of your body. The other 30% remains dirty.

If you haven't flossed in a while, you may see a little red tinge of blood on the floss after you use it. This indicates that your gums are slightly inflamed and vastly in need of flossing to remove bacteria. With a regular regimen of flossing this red tinge should go away. Also, white buildups on the dental floss are indications that plaque has accumulated between your teeth.

At our practice, we recommend Glide dental floss because it slides easily between teeth. However, any floss that you can get between your teeth and which does not fray or break easily is good.