We’ve all been there. You go in for your routine dental appointment, and your brushing is great, but then comes the dreaded question: “How often have you been flossing?”
If your answer is somewhere along the lines of, “When was I last here?” then you’re long overdue to start a flossing routine.
You may have heard the news recently that the federal government removed its recommendation to floss daily due to a lack of research, but we encourage you to consider maintaining or starting a flossing regimen if keeping your teeth looking their best is important to you.
In today’s blog, we list four reasons flossing remains important, even without the government’s recommendation to floss daily.
- Twins Study Shows Flossing Can Significantly Reduce Periodontal Disease and Cavity-Causing Bacteria – Two NYU dental researchers published a study (pg. 34) in the Journal of Periodontology in 2009 that aimed to show the effects of flossing in twins. With 51 sets of twins to work with, they were divided into a treatment group and a non-treatment group at random, with the examiner having no idea who was flossing and who wasn’t. The two-week study showed that in just that short time, the group not flossing exhibited an overabundance of periodontal pathogens and cariogenic bacteria. Even more, the twins who flossed reduced their gingival bleeding by 38%!
- Flossing May Help Prevent Heart Disease – If you’re familiar with our blog, you know we have informed you about the link between your oral health and overall health. Numerous studies have shown links between gum disease and other serious medical conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and even low birth-weight babies.
- The Tight Spaces Between Your Teeth & Gums Are Impossible To Properly Clean With Just A Toothbrush – Enhance the effectiveness of your brushing by covering all areas of the mouth. Normal brushing fails to adequately clean between teeth and under the gums, but this is where flossing excels.
- Flossing Prevents Tartar Buildup – Plaque has time to harden into tartar in your mouth only if it goes undisturbed. In its early stage, even though plaque is sticky, it is also soft and pliable. In combination with brushing, flossing allows you to remove this plaque buildup from around the gums, preventing it from ever becoming tartar.
As you can see there still are significant benefits in flossing your teeth, even if the federal government seems to indicate uncertainty at this point. If you’re unsure where to begin, we encourage you to follow our guide to great flossing, or you can give us a call at 717-684-3943.