The Importance of Flossing
You most likely know to brush twice a day. But do you also floss?
Flossing is the best way to remove food debris between teeth. When you brush AND floss, you remove decay-causing plaque from your teeth. See your dentist for regular cleanings, and you prevent gum disease. It’s called good oral hygiene.
Ignore those practices, and you end up with bleeding gums. That’s a sign of gum disease. Gum disease is serious as it causes tooth loss. Gum disease triggers inflammation throughout the body that has been linked with serious chronic health problems – heart disease, stroke, even Alzheimer’s disease or pregnancy complications.
The ‘Silent Disease’ of gum disease
Gum disease is caused by a buildup of plaque and bacteria. As plaque builds, it attacks the gums. This causes sensitivity, swelling and bleeding gums. Gum disease can destroy jaw bone that supports your teeth – which may require surgery, and even result in tooth loss.
The bacteria from gum disease gets into your bloodstream, causing inflammation and damage in the blood vessels, nerves, tissues and organs. Scientific research has shown a link between gum disease and serious health problems like heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
You’ve got to take it seriously for your overall health. That’s why brushing and flossing daily are so important.
Lifestyle is important, too
To keep teeth and gums healthy, a healthy lifestyle is also important – eating more leafy green vegetables and fish, getting plenty of calcium, eating less meat, getting more exercise, reducing the amount we smoke and alcohol we drink. All these improve our chances of avoiding these diseases..
Maintaining a good oral hygiene routine (including brushing and flossing) and regular dental check ups are a great start to keep gum disease at bay. When you see your dentist regularly, you will spot any potential problems and tackle them early on.
