Be Your Own Floss Boss!

giveacareindy — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 14:00:49 +0000

We all know we should be flossing, but how come so many of us don’t? It’s just an extra step in our already time-consuming oral hygiene routine, and for what? Just to clean out last night’s left-over spaghetti squash? Probably not worth it, right? Wrong. According to a survey done by ADA News only sixteen percent of the public floss their teeth every day, while over forty percent admit to exaggerating how much they floss to their dentist. The truth is, not flossing can have serious long-term consequences on your oral health. Just brushing cleans the exposed area of your teeth, however flossing reaches the places that a tooth brush cannot reach. If your gums bleed at the dentist, or the few times you do try to floss, that is a clear indicator that you should be flossing. The professionals at Colgate suggest that bleeding gums means inflammation caused from bacteria existing in plaque surrounding the gum tissue. According to Crest, the buildup of plaque can produce tartar if not taken care of soon enough, which can then result in cavities, gingivitis, and even gum disease. Flossing at least once a day can drastically lower, if not eliminate these possible consequences. In order to remind yourself to floss, try leaving the floss container out by your sink so that it is the last thing you see before you head to bed. After flossing for just a couple of days, you will notice that any bleeding will gradually lessen, and your smile will appear even whiter and brighter!

To make an appointment with HealthNet Dental please call 317-957-2450. To learn more visit www.indyhealthnet.org.

Posted by: Emily Jump, Marketing and Communications Intern

Give A Care Indy » flossing

Be Your Own Floss Boss!