This article explains the importance of flossing as a part of your daily oral hygiene routine and how it is integral to the prevention of tooth decay.

When last did you give your teeth a good floss? No, that toothpick at dinnertime doesn’t really count. The vast majority of Americans fail to floss their teeth once a week, never mind the recommended once per day. And according to East Rutherford dental implants specialists, this constitutes a major breach in one’s daily defense measures against the bacteria that cause tooth decay, tooth loss and periodontal (gum) disease. Let’s take a closer look at your mouth under the microscope so that we can better understand just why flossing is so necessary.

Your Mouth Under the Microscope

Just because you can’t see them doesn't mean they’re not there! Oral bacteria are tiny micro-organisms that inhabit the deliciously dark and moist habitat that is your mouth. They’re so small that the tiny, tight spaces between your teeth are like vast gaping chasms to them. “You may brush twice or even three times a day, but the bristles of your toothbrush can’t get into these narrow spaces, which means that they offer excellent refuge for bacteria,” explain NJ dental implant specialists.

The nooks and crannies in your mouth, of which there are plenty, also tend to harbor food debris, upon which these pesky pathogens feast. Just like any animal that eats, they too need to excrete wastes and these wastes together with legions of living and dead bacteria accumulate on, around and between your teeth. Brushing is an excellent way to remove bacteria, which, in enough numbers, is visible as a white sticky substance known as plaque. However, brushing alone simply isn't enough. You need to floss!

Your Teeth are Three Dimensional Structures

Brushing would be enough if your teeth were two-dimensional structures with only a back and a front. But, they’re not. They have sides too and because these sides sit snugly against each other, your toothbrush cannot keep them clean. This is where flossing comes to the rescue. “Floss sweeps the sides of your teeth clean of plaque, food and other debris and you should perform this cleaning routine once or even twice a day,” recommend East Rutherford dental implants specialists.

If you don’t floss regularly, you leave that bacteria in place to just multiply and excrete their acidic wastes all over your dental enamel. Considering that so few people actually floss once a day, it’s no surprise that the most common location of cavities and tooth decay in between the teeth. Your teeth are three-dimensional structures and need to be cleaned accordingly. “People who don’t floss are missing out on cleaning about 35% of their teeth,” say East Rutherford dental implants specialists. “Do you only clean 65% of your body when you jump in the shower? No? So why would you neglect your teeth?”

A Final Note on Flossing

Flossing might not rank highly on one’s list of “fun” things to do, but it is an essential part of caring for your teeth. “If you like your smile and would like to keep your pearly whites healthy and white, then stop procrastinating and making excuses,” say NJ dental implants specialists. Whip out the floss and give each tooth a good clean. You only need to look at what comes out from between them even after you’ve brushed thoroughly to appreciate just how important flossing is!