Flossing Daily Can Protect Your Smile

It’s every dentist’s favorite mantra—“Brush and floss!” We all seem to understand the need for brushing, but flossing is a bit more tedious for some. However, flossing is one of the most important things you can do to protect your smile! Here’s why.

Benefits of Flossing Daily

Flossing daily is an essential part of a good oral care routine. Flossing helps to:

• Increase the effectiveness of brushing

• Prevent infection and inflammation

• Remove unseen food particles

• Prevent tooth decay

• Brighten teeth

• Prevent gum disease

• Spread fluoride throughout the mouth

• Remove plaque from tight spaces

Preventing Cavities

Some people believe you can achieve the benefits listed above by just brushing or using mouthwash, but flossing is essential because it’s the only effective way to clean between teeth, where plaque and other harmful bacteria tend to accumulate. Flossing is one of the best ways to prevent cavities.

Preventing Gum Disease

An especially important benefit of flossing is that it helps prevent gum disease. Bacteria and infections in the mouth can easily be transferred to other parts of the body and have been linked to more serious conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis. Exact connections between these conditions are yet to be discovered, but research shows that individuals with no gum diseases are less likely to suffer from conditions like heart disease. In addition to protecting your smile, flossing is important to your overall health!

If you want to keep your teeth healthy, clean, and looking their best, be sure to floss every day. Here at Ridge View Dental, we are passionate about keeping our patients’ smiles in top shape, so we’re happy to answer any questions you might have about the importance of flossing. Give us a call at (801) 334-9444, or stop by our office today!