Flossing these days is all over the news with a major US news paper saying it is not necessary to floss.
Everyone all over the world is so happy to read this article.
But hey hey hold on, yes you will have to floss. Agreed, there are very few studies proving the benefits of flossing, but the risks of not flossing outweigh the benefits it provides.
So now go on, get your floss and start flossing.
Why floss?
- There is no way a toothbrush is going between your teeth
- A major number of cavities seen at a dentist is proximal (between 2 teeth)
- how do you think these surfaces will be cleaned.
- flossing not only prevents cavities it also protects the gums from getting infected.
- it saves you money, with healthcare costs rising its better to practice prevention rather than suffering later. links have been shown between gum disease and other systemic diseases like heart conditions.
- Flossing prevents bad breath.
- flossing prevents build up of plaque and tartar, hence saving you from gum disease & also a visit to a dentist :).
How often should you floss?
You can floss as often as you like, but once a day should be enough.
We ask our patients to floss at least once before going to bed, followed by brushing.
However some patients find it difficult to hold the floss and reach the back teeth, for them we advice the use of floss sticks or other flossing aids. here s a pic of one such flossing aid:-
Conclusion:
We would like to conclude by saying that everyone needs
- to brush twice
- floss at least once
- use a mouthwash
- visit a dentist every 6 months for a regular check