Can daily flossing save your life?

Can daily flossing save your life?

 

It’s a known fact – the health of your teeth and gums can impact your risks for heart disease and a number of other serious medical illnesses. This shouldn’t come as a surprise considering that everything in our body affects everything, meaning that the health status of our mouth might impact and/or be a reflection of our body’s overall health.

While it often takes a back seat to brushing, flossing is an essential part of your oral health care routine.

 

70{69f2458fc9fdfc1f145241dab8364950c932207f495df702fefb68e37de27660} of Americans brush their teeth twice a day, but only 50{69f2458fc9fdfc1f145241dab8364950c932207f495df702fefb68e37de27660} of Americans floss daily. While brushing helps clean the surface of your teeth, flossing removes the bacteria that builds up in the gaps between your teeth and gums where the toothbrush can’t reach.

But flossing isn’t just to remove food between your teeth. Flossing allows you to help clean out the dental plaques, which are bacterial networks in your mouth. By keeping your dental plaque levels to a reasonable level, you can keep your gums healthy and prevent all the bleeding and soreness that many people use as an excuse not to floss.

When your gums swell and turn red and hurt or bleed, that’s inflammation and chronic inflammation in your body is not good for your health.

By flossing, you remove bacterial and encourage healthy teeth and gum status. If you think your teeth are too tightly spaced, you should try waxed dental floss or ask your dentist about what to do; but simply ignoring it is not the way to go.

The current recommendation for those people who are concerned about heart disease or strokes is for people to eat healthy, exercise, manage stress, and make sure to get adequate sleep. What’s surprising to many is that flossing is also one of those “must do’s” for heart health.

 

So, the next time you decide it’s no big deal not to floss today, just remember that it can become a slippery slope when you start to skip flossing a few days per week.  You just might stop doing it altogether. If you think heart health is important, then the health of your teeth and gums are too, so make flossing a priority.  Your heart will thank you for it.

Having problems flossing?  Have questions regarding the proper way to do it?  Don’t risk your health – call our office today to schedule a consultation and let’s work together to get (and keep) your dental health back on track!