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How Flossing Can Impact Gum Disease Prevention
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Posted on 8/10/2019 by Todd Jorgenson |
 Everyone knows that flossing is an important part of your oral hygiene, but most people assume it has to do with helping keep your teeth strong. Flossing does certainly remove food particles and other debris that get stuck between your teeth, but it also helps protect your gums from gum disease. Here's how flossing helps prevent gum disease.
Bacteria Affects Your Teeth and Your MouthThe same bacteria that sticks to your teeth and causes cavities also affects your gums. These bacteria convert sugar in foods into acid that damages your teeth. This acid can also get down onto your gums, damaging them as well. When that happens, the openings created in the gums allow the bacteria to enter your system. That leads to infection, inflammation, and other health concerns. It can even cause the bones that support your teeth to begin deteriorating, leading to tooth loss.
Flossing Prevents Bacteria from Getting to the GumsWhile flossing helps prevent cavities, it also removes plaque before it the bacteria in it can attack your gums. By preventing that bacteria from reaching the gums, it reduces the risk of gum disease. Flossing also removes food debris that the bacteria feeds on, reducing the amount of tooth-damaging acids produced.
While brushing certainly helps control bacteria and reduce cavities and gum disease, toothbrushes simply can't get in between teeth as well as dental floss. Flossing regularly in addition to brushing is the best way of combating gum disease.
Don't Forget Teeth Cleanings!Even if you brush several times a day and floss once a day, some stubborn bacteria can still get through. That's why it's also important that you come in and see us every six months for a professional cleaning and checkup.
This gives us a chance to make certain your teeth and gums are healthy and that there are no problems. Call today to make an appointment.
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