Five Facts About Flossing

Flossing; perhaps the worst ‘f’ word in the dental community, at least for our patients. Our team at Sterling Dental Center just does not understand that because flossing is so beneficial for your teeth, your mouth, and your overall health!

Here are five fun facts about flossing.

1- Flossing protects your teeth

Not flossing leaves at least 35% of your teeth unprotected and susceptible to plaque. Plaque buildup is responsible for cavities and tooth decay as well as other health conditions!

2- Flossing helps your heart

Flossing every day removes plaque and bacteria, which are both shown to increase the chances of heart disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, our oral health is connected to many health conditions, including heart diseases.

3- Flossing helps your toothpaste

When you floss before brushing your teeth, your toothpaste has a better chance of working to its full potential. When you remove food particles and buildup with flossing, there is more area for brushing to cover. Bonus: if your toothpaste has fluoride, it works better when the teeth are fully clean.

4- Flossing keeps your mouth clean

While brushing helps with your oral health, it is not super effective on its own. Flossing removes bacteria that is responsible for teeth issues, gum issues, and even halitosis.

5- Flossing is most effective after eating

As we know, flossing gets rid of food particles and plaque buildup. The best time to floss is right after eating or right before bed. After eating you are more likely to get rid of the pesky food particles while right before bed means there isn’t as much for bacteria to chew on overnight.

One of our favorite floss facts is that is really takes no time. It is so easy to add it into your nighttime routine – floss while watching that last episode on Netflix or right before bedtime stories. For the amount of benefit it adds, it is too easy to not do it.

In addition to regular flossing(every day!), make sure that you keep up with regular appointments . Call Sterling Dental Center today to schedule your next checkup!

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