To Floss or Not Too Floss?

How much benefit do we really get from flossing anyway??

Well the short answer is a lot, it may seem like not much of a big deal but did you know that when limiting our cleaning to brushing alone, 40% of the surface area of the teeth goes uncleaned.  That’s like sitting in a bath and only washing below your waist leaving everything above unwashed to accumulate dirt grime and bacteria. Not a pleasant thought is it.

Tooth brushes both manual and electric when used well do a great job of removing plaque and food deposits in easy to access areas. Unfortunately, toothbrush bristles cannot pull the teeth apart and clean where the teeth touch. This area is known as the contact area and is very prone to decay. To clean this area, something must physically slide in between the teeth ie floss. When done properly the floss should give your tooth a hug and slide right down to below the gum level of both teeth.

If you are an irregular or a starting out flosser you are highly likely to experience some mild bleeding of the gums with flossing. Don’t be put off, this is due to plaque induced inflammation in the gums causing the gums to be swollen and fragile which makes them bleed very easily. The good new is that after the nasty plaque bacteria have been removed the gums quickly return to full strength and bleeding reduces accordingly. However, if this persists please mention this to me at your next appointment.

As more and more research reveals the evidence that good oral health is directly linked to good general health and wellbeing, it has never been more important to look after our teeth, gums and oral soft tissues as best we can.