Flossing is one of the key components of oral care. It serves a number of purposes aside from ensuring your smile looks great, which is why your dentist will regularly advise that you do it at least twice a day. If you aren’t flossing, consider the advantages below to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

5 Reasons to Routinely Floss Your Teeth

1. Keeping Teeth Healthy

Cavities don’t always appear on the crown of your teeth. They can form between them, which is where bacteria feed on trapped food and debris. Your dentist will suggest flossing for these hard-to-reach areas, which will help prevent issues with decay that require fillings.

2. Keeping Gums Healthy

Do your gums bleed when you brush? Typically, this is because of plaque buildup around your gum line. Flossing removes this plaque, and while your gums may bleed at first, they’ll gradually stop since your body won’t be reacting to the bacteria. You’ll be keeping them healthy and can count on avoiding gum disease and harmful inflammation.

3. Staying Ahead of Plaque

Plaque only takes 48 hours to harden. Once in place, it will remain on your teeth, gradually causing decay and eventually turning into tartar that only a dentist can remove. This is especially problematic between teeth, which is why you need to floss to stay completely ahead of plaque.

4. Keeping the Rest of Your Body Healthy

Gum disease—which is caused by plaque buildup below the gum line—not only destroys your mouth but also affects a variety of bodily systems. It has negative effects on cardiovascular, joint, and respiratory health and can interact with conditions like stroke and diabetes. Flossing keeps your gums healthy and, in turn, the rest of your body.

5. Keeping Your Baby Healthy

If you’re an expecting mother, flossing is essential for keeping both your teeth and your baby healthy. Gum disease has been linked to premature births and low-birth weight, so keep up with healthy oral care practices and speak with your dentist about additional care.

The team at Parkway Family Dental in Kalispell, MT, is committed to keeping their patients’ smiles healthy. They believe in education and preventative care, which is why they use state-of-the-art equipment and techniques to ensure patients get the best treatment. They offer a variety of cosmetic dentistry enhancements as well, all of which you can explore on their website. Call (406) 752-2372 to schedule an oral exam with a dentist.