Reasons to Floss Your Teeth

In this post, we\’ll review the reasons why you should be flossing each day to help maintain good dental health.

Are you flossing your teeth each day?

We sure hope so! Unfortunately, studies have shown that almost one-third of U.S. adults never floss. The most common reasons people give as to why they don\’t floss is that they just can\’t find the time or that they don\’t feel that they need to.

Since we\’ve heard “I don\’t know why I need to floss\” so many times, we\’ll review some of the reasons that you should.

• Flossing prevents bad breath.
• Flossing decreases bacteria that leads to cavities.
• Flossing is the best way to remove food particles and plaque to prevent gingivitis (gum tissue) between your teeth.
• Gum disease is correlated with higher rates of heart disease, a common cause of heart attacks and death.
• Flossing helps prevent tooth loss. Ten percent of U.S. adults over 55 have no permanent teeth remaining.
• Tooth loss is correlated with higher rates of dementia.
• Poor dental health is linked to higher rates of diabetes.
• Gum disease is related to higher levels of kidney disease.
• Pathogens can get into your mouth and then enter your body through gums and breathing air into your lungs. Brushing and flossing help stop them.

Flossing your teeth protects your dental health, which helps protect your overall health.

If you don\’t already floss, then make a commitment to yourself to start today.

Are you ready for a checkup? Getting to any issues with your teeth early will help prevent issues from becoming serious problems.

Schedule a consultation online or call us at (972) 964-3774

David Wilhite serves patients in the Plano, Texas area and has 30 years experiences helping people care for and improve their smiles.