Think you can get away with not flossing? Think again. Flossing is just as important to daily dental care as brushing your teeth, because it cleans the tight spaces between teeth and gums that your toothbrush cannot reach. Joy Lunan DDS of Middlebury, CT consistently emphasizes the importance of flossing to patients, and notes that it’s easily one of the most skipped-over aspects of oral hygiene.

Check out what the seasoned dentist wants you to know about flossing:

• Tooth Decay Prevention: Daily flossing removes plaque that lodges between the tooth and gum line to cause tooth decay. Plaque is the sticky combination of food particles and mouth bacteria that work together to form enamel-eroding acids. Brushing removes plaque on tooth surfaces, but only flossing gets rid of the food particles and plaque between teeth and gums. If left unchecked plaque below the gum line transforms into tartar, a much harder substance that only your dentist can remove.
• Gum Disease Prevention: Regular removal of plaque via daily brushing and flossing helps prevent gingivitis and gum disease. Gum disease causes inflammation, bleeding, redness, loose teeth, and eventually the breakdown of bone surrounding teeth.

• Bad Breath Prevention: Diligent flossing helps keep breath fresh, as the mouth contains less food particles and bacteria that contribute to foul odors.
• Heart Disease Prevention: More and more evidence connects oral health to overall wellness. Mouth bacteria and gum disease are linked to serious health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory illness. Flossing reduces the amount of harmful bacteria in the mouth, and therefore contributes to a healthy body.

These are just some of the many reasons to take a few minutes every day to floss. Discuss correct technique with Dr. Lunan, and feel good answering, “Yes!” when she asks if you’ve been flossing at your next appointment. You can schedule a teeth cleaning with Joy Lunan DDS today by calling (203)-598-7920. To learn more about oral healthcare and the services Joy Lunan provides to patients, including teeth whitening treatments and dental crowns, visit the practice's website.