This question always pops up in our mind whenever we hear about the importance of flossing. Is it effective? And is it important for it to be practiced daily? When talking about oral hygiene practices, there are countless debates about the importance of flossing and its effectiveness. Even though many of us ignore this simple habit of flossing, some researchers explore its effectiveness when it comes to optimal oral health. The American Dental Association recommends daily flossing to be practiced as a daily routine with brushing. If you are regularly visiting general dentistry in Scottsdale, AZ, you must have thought about these questions too when the dentist advised you to start this habit. Understanding why it is important, or mainly how it is going to help you will make you more motivated to start this habit. Thus, read this blog to learn about how it works and why you should start this too. 

How Does Flossing Work?

A tool made of plastic with thin and soft thread that is designed to effortlessly slide between the teeth and gum lines to help remove plaque and food particles. This practice was introduced in the 19th century to help in cleaning areas where it is not easy to reach. Daily flossing will remove food particles that are stuck between the teeth and gum lines and are not easy to remove with brushing. It will also help in removing plaque a substance that is accumulated daily and if it is not removed daily it will harden into tartar which is going to cause cavities and gum diseases. Once there is tartar buildup it will be harder to remove without professional help. Many of the research says that flossing regularly will help in preventing gum inflammation which is caused by food particles stuck in the gum lines and bacteria infestation on them. 

Benefits Of Regular Flossing

There are some undeniable benefits of flossing even with the rising questions about its effectiveness. One of the most significant benefits of flossing is that it prevents gum disease, gingivitis the 1st stage of gum disease where you see swollen and bleeding gums, where it helps by removing bacteria and plaque that accumulate near the gum line and reducing the risk of inflammation and progression of the disease. If the food particles stuck between the teeth are removed which are harder to reach with a brush, it will prevent the bacteria from feeding on them thus causing cavities. The removal of food particles is going to reduce bacteria presence in your mouth and will give fresher breath because the foul smell of food is what causes the bad breath. Newly found research suggests that enhancing oral health is going to benefit the overall health of an individual, preventing some of the common systemic diseases like COPD, Cardiovascular diseases, and Diabetes. 

Some Myths You Must Avoid

Despite the known benefits, some misconceptions make us stop this habit. Myths like if your gums are bleeding you think it is due to flossing but it is because of gingivitis and not due to flossing because consistent flossing helps in removing gum inflammation but if it is continuous it is advised that you consult a professional before it escalates. Another myth about avoiding flossing is if you brush your teeth twice, however brushing only removes biofilm from the upper surface of the teeth and cleans only the surface and not between the teeth. Therefore it is important to remove particles stuck between the teeth with flossing which are harder to remove by brushing. It is also believed that children do not need flossing because they do not have full teeth and only adults should practice it daily but it is necessary to remove the disease-causing particles early on to preserve optimal health for a lifetime.