When you go to your Lovett Dental Upper Kirby dentist for your regular teeth cleaning, they will clean, polish, and floss your teeth. As they remove the excess plaque and tartar from your mouth, they will probably ask you how often do you floss your teeth? If you’re like twenty-seven percent of Americans, you’ve probably stretched the truth with your answer. But your dental hygienist is not trying to twist your arm or embarrass you. They ask because they know the benefits of flossing daily.
Flossing Daily Removes Plaque
One of the benefits of flossing daily is removing the plaque that settles on and in between your teeth. Plaque is a film that develops on your teeth. This is formed from a combination of saliva, food, and fluids. Although normal, a large amount of plaque buildup left can be harmful to your teeth. When plaque isn’t removed, it will harden into tartar.
Tartar formation traps stains on your teeth and makes it hard to remove new plaque and bacteria. This can be problematic to your overall oral health as it can cause cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease. Flossing every day prevents plaque from accumulating into a tartar buildup that only a dental professional can remove.
Brushing Alone Is Not Enough
Your mouth might feel fresh after brushing, but it is not being cleaned to its full potential. Although it is important to brush twice a day thoroughly, simply brushing your teeth is not enough on its own. Toothbrush bristles can only reach certain areas of your mouth. Therefore, you are only removing plaque from the surfaces of your teeth when you brush.
Flossing, in combination with brushing, provides thorough cleaning for your mouth. When this becomes a part of your daily routine, it ensures you are cleaning both the front, back, and inner areas of your teeth. Be sure that you are flossing all the way down to the gum. This will reduce extra bacteria from forming in those hard-to-reach areas.
Are you curious about which should come first? Studies show that interdentally cleaning your teeth prior to brushing is more successful in removing plaque. This will ultimately leave you with cleaner, stronger teeth. So, the next time you go to brush, remember to floss first for the best results.
Flossing Prevents Bad Breath
Plaque is a buildup of bacteria that forms inside of your mouth and in between your teeth. Since plaque is caused by the food, fluids, and saliva that pass through your teeth, it is important to remove that excess buildup.
If you don’t remove these particles, they transition to bacteria. This bacteria sits inside your mouth unless it is properly removed. If you allow the excess food and liquids to sit in between your teeth, you can imagine why they would begin to carry an odor over time.
A good way to reduce bacteria buildup is to floss your teeth after you eat. Flossing after a meal ensures that you are removing any food particles before they have a chance to build up into bacteria.
Learn the Benefits of Flossing Daily at Lovett Dental
Flossing daily is as essential as visiting your Lovett Dental Upper Kirby dentist regularly. Because your dentist provides a full cleaning that removes plaque and tartar, you can get a fresh start at good dental hygiene. At Lovett Dental Upper Kirby, we provide thorough teeth cleaning to ensure your teeth and gums are healthy. We also offer a range of other dental services, including but not limited to:
- Teeth whitening services
- Dental veneer procedures
- Crowns and bridges
- Pediatric dentistry
- Dental braces
Now that you know the benefits of flossing daily don’t fail your oral hygiene. If you are searching for a dental professional, contact Lovett Dental Upper Kirby today at 713-490-8888.
