More Than Just a String: Why Flossing is Essential for Your Oral Health
As you begin your nightly oral hygiene routine before climbing into bed, you pull out a length of dental floss. While twisting it around your fingers, you ponder that dental floss is about as low-tech as it gets, considering all the electronic gadgets for oral care and hygiene.
While dental floss is a simple yet essential tool for maintaining good oral hygiene, many options are available, and choosing the right floss can be confusing.
Additionally, as with many other simple skills, it helps to learn the right technique to make your flossing as effective as possible.
Read further for discussions on why flossing is so important, how to do it properly, and the best product suggestions for your needs.
Table of Contents
- What Is The Importance of Dental Flossing?
- 6 Benefits of Flossing Regularly
- How to Floss Properly To Maintain a Healthy Smile
- What Happens If You Don’t Use Dental Floss?
- 9 Dental Floss Options
- Support Your Tooth and Gum Health With Regular Visits to Mint Dental Works
What Is The Importance of Dental Flossing?
Simply stated, dental floss is used to remove food particles and plaque from between the teeth.
Proper flossing removes the plaque and bacteria from your teeth and gums — the culprits that can lead to tooth decay or cavities from places your brush cannot reach.
6 Benefits of Flossing Regularly
There are many benefits to flossing regularly that extend beyond just having healthy teeth and gums. The seemingly small task of flossing is crucial to maintaining good oral health, and many people underestimate the role of flossing in their health, omitting this from their oral care routine.
If you continually skip this part of your oral and dental care routine, you are much more likely to develop cavities or other complications. That’s why the American Dental Association® (ADA) recommends brushing at least twice daily and flossing daily.
So why do you need to keep flossing as part of your daily care? Read further for details.
#1: Gets Rid of Plaque
Plaque and tartar create a sticky, bacteria-filled acidic film on your teeth.
The presence of plaque and tartar can:
- Contribute to bad breath
- Harm your tooth enamel
- Be difficult to remove when it hardens
- Pose challenges when cleaning your teeth at home
- Require a dentist or hygienist to remove
After just a short time of not flossing, plaque and tartar will start to accumulate between your teeth. Brushing cleans the surfaces but cannot go in between teeth — that’s where flossing proves to be essential.
#2: Reduces Risk of Cavities
If not removed by regular brushing, flossing, and thorough dental visits, plaque has the potential to travel below the gumline, causing gingivitis and periodontal issues. When allowed to persist, plaque also wreaks havoc on the enamel, eventually resulting in tooth decay and cavities.
Healthy teeth and gums require daily thorough brushing and flossing.
#3: Reduces Bad Breath
Halitosis, or bad breath, can become particularly prominent when you don’t floss.
After eating, food particles remain in your mouth if not removed by brushing and flossing. Bacteria break down these food fragments, generating sulfurous compounds that produce the resulting odor.
#4: Prevents Gum Disease
Gum disease begins with plaque build-up. Early signs of gum disease involve tissue pulling away from the teeth, creating what are known as “gum pockets” where bacteria lingers outside the reach of your toothbrush bristles.
After this, you may develop gingivitis, which is characterized by red, inflamed gums and may eventually develop into periodontitis — when bacteria travel deep below the gum line to the bones supporting your teeth.
Once the progression of gum disease reaches this stage, you may experience receding gums and loose teeth — and if not treated, this could lead to the loss of teeth.
#5: Helps Heart & Respiratory Health
More and more research shows that dental issues are not isolated to the mouth and may have a ripple effect through the body. The resulting inflammation and accumulating bacteria may contribute to:
- Weight gain
- Higher likelihood of dementia
- Heart disease, stroke, or cardiovascular problems
- Increased inflammation in conditions such as COPD or asthma
- Increased risk for Type II diabetes, which can accelerate tooth decay and loss
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Other chronic health concerns
#6: Boosts Immune System
Our mouths harbor a lot of bacteria, and some of these bacteria may be making us ill.
By fighting the bacteria in our mouths by flossing and brushing well, our immune systems do not have to fight off harmful germs from our gums and teeth.
How To Floss Properly To Maintain A Healthy Smile
Here’s a suggestion for a step-by-step guide to making the most of routine flossing:
- Select your floss and withdraw approximately 18 inches in length.
- Wind each of the ends of the floss around both your index fingers.
- Hold about a 1-inch portion of the floss tightly between your thumbs and pointer fingers.
- Gently insert between your teeth, sliding up and down between the teeth.
- Next, hug the floss tightly to the side of a tooth in a C shape.
- Slide the floss up and down the side of the tooth, pressing gently.
- Move along each tooth, using a clean section of floss as you go.
- Don’t forget your back teeth!
If you are unable to use traditional dental floss due to oral health issues or physical impairments, be sure to check with your dentist for other suggestions and options.
What Happens If You Don’t Use Dental Floss?
After months or years of inconsistent flossing, you have a higher risk of developing chronic dental and health issues.
Cavities, loose teeth or the loss of teeth, unexplained health concerns, or infections can occur if you don’t pay close attention to teeth and gums.
Routine and thorough oral care at home — particularly good flossing habits — can preserve your great smile and contribute to your overall health.
While it may seem like a task you can skip, if you do not floss regularly, it can lead to several health issues, such as:
- Bad breath
- Gum disease
- Tooth decay
- Stained teeth
- Loose teeth or tooth loss
- Chronic health issues
9 Dental Floss Options
There are numerous options for dental floss products, each with its own benefits. You also may have certain preferences about which product you like to use — or you may have dental issues that some products address better than others.
Regardless of the product you choose to use, the most important thing is that you are flossing regularly.
#1: Tape Floss
Dental tape is wider and flatter than regular dental floss.
It is best suited for individuals with tighter gaps between their teeth and is generally more comfortable to use.
#2: Thread Floss
Thread floss, or traditional dental floss, is highly effective for cleaning between teeth because it allows for precise control and can reach tight spaces and curve around each tooth.
Benefits of thread floss include:
- Removing plaque and food residue from around the teeth and at the gum line
- Helping to prevent gum disease and cavities
- The most effective method for thorough oral hygiene compared to some other flossing devices or methods
#3: Super Floss
Super flosses can be helpful to those with larger spaces between their teeth or those with braces or dental bridges. Each end of the floss has thicker, stiffer areas to help with these special situations.
#4: Polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) Floss
Also known as PTFE, polytetrafluorethylene floss has the same material used in Gore-Tex fabric.
This floss has an easy slide between the teeth and is not likely to shred or break. People with very tight spaces between their teeth often favor PTFE.
#5: Waxed vs. Unwaxed
Utilizing waxed or unwaxed floss may be a personal preference, but both are equally as effective.
Waxed dental floss is what most people think of as “regular” floss, but can shred if you have tight teeth. People with tighter contacts may find unwaxed floss easier to use.
#6: Flavored vs. Unflavored
Again, this may come down to personal preference. Whether or not your dental floss is flavored has nothing to do with its effectiveness.
If you are assisting a younger child with flossing, they may find it more tolerable to use a flavored floss. Flavored floss can make flossing more appealing and encourage kids to adopt good oral hygiene habits.
#7: Natural/Biodegradable Floss
So many materials are used for daily tasks, and then we just toss them when we’re done. This “use and discard” mentality creates significant waste, and we can be friendlier to the earth if we choose biodegradable and sustainable products.
If you are seeking a sustainable product, some companies offer refillable containers for your flossing product.
The floss can also be made of eco-friendly materials such as cornstarch, bamboo, or biodegradable products like silk or candelilla wax.
#8: Water Flosser
A water flosser, also known as an oral irrigator, works by shooting out a thin and pressurized stream of water between teeth.
Some may find a water flosser is easier to use than traditional floss — especially those with braces, dental implants, or periodontal disease.
The benefits of water flossers include:
- Gentle removal of plaque with water, especially for those with sensitive gums
- It may improve gum health by reducing gingivitis
- Prevents bleeding from friction that may occur with regular flossing
- Easy to use, even for those with dexterity concerns
- Can reach around orthodontic appliances, behind the back teeth, and other hard-to-clean spaces
#9: Flossing Aids
Flossing Stick
Dental floss sticks or picks are an effective way to floss, especially if you’re on the go.. However, they are a bit more challenging to use than traditional floss, and you may not be able to reach all areas inside your mouth.
Additionally, a floss stick may be less clean and is more likely to fray since you’re using the same small piece of floss the entire time.
Floss Holder
Floss holders are ideal for those with braces, bridges, or just reaching your back teeth effectively.
Floss holders are small devices that hold your traditional string of dental floss steady. The benefit of floss holders is that they are reusable and can be cleaned between uses. Just insert a new length of floss each time.
Also, floss holders are more eco-friendly without the plastic waste of flossing sticks, and you can even select biodegradable floss options to use with your holder.
Vibrating Dental Floss Holder
Vibrating dental floss holders are also available for those with impaired hand mobility or dexterity to complete the daily flossing task.
The electric or battery-operated flossers hold the floss and provide gentle vibrations to massage gums and remove plaque from places toothbrushes cannot reach.
They create the movement necessary to remove the plaque that may be too difficult to complete for those with impaired mobility.
Support Your Tooth and Gum Health With Regular Visits to Mint Dental Works
Mint Dental Works is your SE Portland dentist, helping support healthy teeth and gums.
We strive to make a positive difference in the lives of our patients by offering excellent, customized, and comprehensive dental care in a comfortable and caring atmosphere. Our professional team is committed to improving your health, appearance, self-confidence, and overall quality of life.
Visit us for the latest dental treatment technology in a charming, affordable, and community-minded setting.
The content in this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.