How Does Flossing Help Your Gums and Teeth?

 When you’re brushing your teeth or taking care of your oral hygiene routine, it’s important to remember that you should also be flossing. But while brushing will remove the plaque from the surface of your teeth, flossing cleans between and below your gum line. That means that toothpaste alone won't be enough for even a basic level of cleanliness.

 
 

Flossing: How It Works

Each tooth has a root, a pulp—the blood vessel that feeds the tooth—and a protective covering called the enamel. Even though these structures look different from each other, they're one continuous entity.

 

If you look in between your teeth, all of them are connected by thin bundles of nerves and tissue in your gums. That's where bacteria like to hide. That's also where regular flossing can help you clean out plaque and bacteria buildup from between the teeth. You need to remove it so that it doesn't harm your teeth.

 

Decreases the Risk of Gum Diseases

It can help decrease the risk of developing gum disease and periodontitis by improving circulation in your mouth and removing plaque from difficult-to-reach areas. Both of these can have severe effects on your teeth and gums and will lead to oral problems if not addressed in time.

 

Fights Plaque

When you start to see plaque buildup around your teeth, about 20% of that plaque is bacterial. This is what you need to concentrate on first. If you don't get rid of it, it may start to spread into your gums and destroy the tissue there, leading to heart disease and cancer. Plaque that's not removed or treated can also damage your enamel.

 

 

How Often Should You Floss?

To ensure that you remove all of the bacteria in between your teeth, try flossing at least once every day.

 

Ideally, it would be best to floss after each meal because this is when the plaque on your teeth starts to form.

 

Flossing is not a process of teeth cleaning alone. It's also about combating oral infections and ensuring that your mouth stays clean and healthy overall.

Visit the Dentist

If regular flossing and brushing don't help, then it's always better to visit the dentist. At Advanced Dental Center, we offer a range of professional dental services that ensure your oral hygiene and help you identify any potential oral diseases in time.

 

Contact us to know more about our dental care services in Maryland.