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We all know the importance of maintaining good oral health. However, you may skip flossing and mouthwash, opting only to brush, as flossing takes a bit more time. This is understandable, but flossing is important – you can’t maintain great dental health with brushing alone. Our Wicker Park dental specialist explains more about the importance of flossing below.
Brushing removes surface-level food particles and bacteria. This leaves your teeth feeling clean and your mouth fresh, but without flossing, there are still food particles and bacteria between your teeth causing damage. Flossing before brushing removes much more debris and plaque than brushing does, and this promotes healthy gums, breath, and overall dental health.
Bacteria-harboring plaque sits just below the gumline, and while brushing helps to remove some of it, flossing is more effective at getting in the crevices and knocking it loose. After flossing, more material has been brought to the surface and brushing can remove the majority of buildup. Bacteria buildup can cause:
It’s easy to fight bacteria by flossing prior to brushing!
If you neglect to floss, plaque will continue to build up between the teeth and harden into tartar. The excess bacteria and plaque can force bacteria to travel further down into the gums, causing gingivitis and later down the road, periodontal disease. These conditions can ultimately lead to tooth and bone loss if left untreated.
Professional dental visits are also essential to remove this hardened material and prevent periodontal disease from developing. Contact our dentist to schedule a professional cleaning today!
The information provided in this article is not meant to be medical advice and is for educational purposes only. If you would like to learn more about this and other topics related to dentistry, feel free to contact Dente Complete Dentistry, with a convenient dental office in Wicker Park by calling 773.295.0562 or by clicking here.
