5 Reasons Your Periodontist Wants You to Floss Every Day

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Dentists who specialise in periodontics help their patients to prevent and manage gum disease. Flossing is a vital part of tackling gum problems. Here are five reasons why your periodontist keeps telling you to floss every day.

1. Plaque Gets Harder to Remove

You might not think it is a big deal to skip flossing for a couple of days. However, the truth is that the longer you leave plaque in contact with your teeth, the more it hardens and becomes difficult to remove. If you skip flossing for long enough, you are likely to need a professional cleaning to get rid of the floss.

2. Flossing Gets More Comfortable With Practice

Many people do not floss because it makes their gums bleed. However, this problem is only a short-term issue. When you floss every day, your gums become healthier and less likely to bleed. Stick with the habit even if it is uncomfortable at first.

3. Flossing Prevents Gum Disease

The main reason your periodontist wants you to floss is that it is extremely helpful for preventing gum disease or stopping it from getting worse. Flossing removes bacteria from below the gum line, where your toothbrush cannot reach. While brushing your teeth is important for preventing cavities, it is not enough on its own to keep your gums healthy.

4. Flossing Protects Overall Health

While the obvious symptoms of gum disease — bad breath, loss of teeth, gum pain — are all based in the mouth, this condition can actually affect the entire body. Research has linked gum disease to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and even diabetes. If you have a personal or family history of any of these diseases, one of the best things you can do to protect yourself is to get into the habit of flossing every day.

5. Flossing Leads to Fresher Breath

If you do not floss every day, tiny scraps of food can remain trapped between your teeth, where they gradually rot as bacteria starts to break them down. The result is breath that smells terrible. You might not be able to detect the smell, but those around you certainly can. Using mouth rinses, chewing gum and breath mints can help to an extent, but the best solution is to get rid of the particles of food that are causing the smell in the first place by flossing every day.

For more information about periodontal treatment, reach out to a periodontist.


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