Your Fort Lauderdale dentist and hygienist at Excellence in Dentistry want to partner with you to achieve your best oral health. Dr. Nancy Rotroff and Dr. Gerard Wasselle emphasize flossing is an important home-care tool in achieving that goal because flossing removes plaque and food debris in between your teeth where your toothbrush can not reach. Flossing regularly reduces your risk of gingivitis, gum disease, and tooth decay.
Plaque develops as bacteria in the mouth mix with sugary or starchy foods. Plaque left on your teeth can lead to gum disease. One of the first signs of gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease, is swollen or bleeding gums. The good news is that gingivitis is reversable. Your Fort Lauderdale dentist will give you home care instructions to combat your gingivitis. However, if gum disease is allowed to progress, gum tissue pulls away from the teeth, allowing the bacteria to destroy the underlying bone supporting the teeth resulting in periodontitis. If left untreated, periodontitis will advance and can result in tooth loss. Flossing is important because it removes the plaque between your teeth and helps reduce your chance of developing gum disease.
If you regularly fail to floss, your gums may bleed, a sign of gingivitis. Bleeding gums allows plaque and bacteria to enter your bloodstream, causing plaque buildup in vessels and possibly heart disease. According to Harvard Health, "people with gum disease (also known as periodontal disease) have two to three times the risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or other serious cardiovascular event." The good news is that gingivitis, in its earlier stages, can be reversed by implementing good oral hygiene practices.
If you fail to brush and floss daily, bacteria feed on food particles that remain in your mouth, causing bad breath. Flossing removes the food particles and plaque freshening your breath. Periodontal disease has a particular smell or malodor. Unfortunately, people with it have a difficult time smelling it on themselves.
Bacteria in plaque produce acids as they break down food particles left from inadequate oral hygiene. These acids can destroy tooth enamel and cause cavities. Sticky or sugary foods trapped between your teeth can quickly result in cavity-causing plaque. Flossing removes the plaque from between teeth.
Now that we have established the importance of flossing, your dental team at Excellence in Dentistry in Fort Lauderdale want you to know how to do it correctly. According to the ADA, the proper way to floss is :
Floss picks are popular because they hold the floss for you, allowing you to floss with one hand. While this may be convenient, floss picks are not as effective as regular floss. Regular floss is recommended, but floss picks are better than nothing for your oral health.
Good oral hygiene is an important part of maintaining your overall health. At Excellence in Dentistry, our goal is to help you prevent gum disease and cavities using good dental habits. Floss daily and brush right after. Visit your dentist and dental hygienist in Fort Lauderdale every six months. Your dental hygienist will thoroughly clean your teeth to remove any accumulated plaque, and your dentist will give you a thorough check-up and take care of small dental issues before they turn into painful problems. Call our office today at 954-928-1666 to schedule your dental check-up and cleaning.
Dr. Nancy Rotroff & Dr. Wasselle Wasselle
Excellence in Dentistry
2480 E. Commercial Blvd, Suite 2
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
