Does flossing do anything?

Lots of people wonder does flossing actually do anything? Yes! Flossing is VERY important as part of your daily oral hygiene routine.

Brushing and flossing doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to spit out all sorts of debris that has been clinging to your teeth or has got lodged in between them.

It not only minimises the chances of dangerous bacteria developing on and in between your teeth. Flossing also keeps your breath smelling fresh as decaying food particles are eliminated. These can often smell if left lodged between your teeth for too long causing bad breath.

 

Plaque is removed by flossing even if you don’t notice it

One of the most important reasons to keep to the habit of flossing twice a day is it removes bacteria. Bacteria that clings to your teeth in the form of plaque which is a sticky, colourless substance that will relentlessly attaches itself to your teeth until you floss and brush it away. Brushing will remove the plaque from the surface of your teeth. While floss removes anything that has become lodged between your teeth.

If plaque is not removed then acid becomes present. This acid will dissolve the enamel slowly over time and bring about the onset of cavity development.

Plaque also irritates the gums and if left alone will eventually lead to gum disease.

Each of your teeth has 5 surfaces. If you fail to regularly floss, at least 2 of your teeth’s surfaces won’t get cleaned.  You dentist will tell you that floss is the sole teeth cleaning tool for removing damaging bacteria from between your teeth.

 

Flossing regularly helps to maintain face shape

A lot of people don’t realise how teeth help to maintain your face’s shape, so if gum disease or tooth loss takes place due to offensive bacteria, creating unfillable cavities, then tooth extraction may be the only choice.

Losing teeth means losing your youthful appearance and it also affects the bones which support your teeth and they start to lose their shape too. These sorts of things are more likely to happen if you have failed to floss your teeth on a daily basis.

 

Choosing the right floss

There are different sizes available. But if you have large gaps between your teeth using a flat, wider dental floss can create better results. If you have few gaps between your teeth it’s better to use thin floss. You can ask your dentist or chemist to recommend the best dental floss for your teeth.

If you have any bridges supporting false teeth or you are wearing braces to correct misaligned teeth you should really use what’s called a “floss threader”. This resembles a plastic needle. And you thread the floss into the eye and weave it in and out of the gaps in the brackets or braces.

Don’t worry if you think you aren’t removing anything significant after flossing because you will be. Plaque and bacteria can’t easily be seen but they can be easily removed by regularly flossing.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you can avoid paying a twice yearly visit to your dentist. The dentist can assess your flossing and brushing tactics and make any recommendations. He or she can also give your teeth a more thorough clean once in a while. This way you keep your teeth in your mouth as long as possible.