Everyone loves to remain healthy. We mostly take good care of ourselves and if anything goes wrong, a visit to the doctor is standard practice for most of us. However, one thing that many people neglect is their teeth. It is usually after suffering their first bout of dental complications that people realize that teeth are important parts of the body and need the same care and maintenance that other parts of the body routinely get. Oral health and oral hygiene often come into consideration only after a problem, and this is not the right approach when it comes to your teeth. Taking good care of your teeth by regularly brushing and flossing, and scheduling regular visits to the dentist is what is prudent.
Most people brush their teeth regularly. What people do not understand is that brushing only cleans about 70% of your teeth. If you want thorough, complete cleaning, you can only achieve that when you combine brushing with regular flossing. Dental health can only be achieved through proper dental care, and as long as the flossing is neglected and left off from your daily schedule, your care would remain ineffective. Doctors recommend that flossing should be started from early childhood the moment any two teeth start touching each other, and they give out this advice for good reason. Brushing provide cleaning to all major surfaces of your teeth, but is inadequate while cleaning the spaces between teeth. This is where flossing comes in really handy in a number of ways, and the major benefits include –
- Less Bad Breath – Bad breath of halitosis affects many, and the reason behind this unpleasant phenomenon is the building up of plaque in hard to reach places inside the mouth. While regular activities such as brushing and tongue cleaning can prevent you from most likely plaque build up scenarios, making flossing part of your oral care addresses everything. Plaque that builds up between teeth can be easily cleaned through flossing, preventing the bacterial action that usually causes halitosis.
- No Tartar – When uncleaned plaque remains in your mouth, it reacts with saliva and slowly calcifies, resulting in tartar. Tartar can be the starting point for a host of teeth and gum-related problems, and the best way to clean it off is a prudent combination of brushing and flossing.
- Fight Tooth Decay – Built up plaque can be host to harmful bacteria, which feeds of anything sweet you consume and can go on to slowly wear your teeth out. Many people suffer from varying stages of tooth decay, and are only months away from more severe complications that can have them scurrying for the dental clinic. Prevention is better than cure, and flossing regularly can help you eliminate the prospect of tooth decay decisively.
- Healthy Gums – One of the usual places where plaque can escape attention is along the gum line. There, it can build up and cause rudimentary gum disease, also called gingivitis. Gum disease is rampant in America, affecting about 75% of the total population, and the prognosis often is not good. There can be serious complications resulting from this condition, and you might even lose a tooth or two. It is smart to adopt preventive measures that minimize the chance of developing gum disease, and flossing regularly is one of the best ways you can achieve this.
Dental care is something that many pursue perfunctorily, out of necessity. In reality, devoting a little time and effort daily to your teeth can keep them healthy and save you from a lot of trouble and pain down the line.