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5 Reasons Why Your Dentist Wants You to Floss

Complete Health Dentistry • Oct 11, 2021
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You might be wondering why your dentist wants you to floss regularly. Keep reading and find out with these 5 reasons here.

We can all agree that it is pretty uncomfortable and unhygienic to have food stuck between your teeth. You risk developing plaque on your teeth if you fail to remove the stuck food particles.


A recent national poll found out that only 4 in 10 Americans floss once a day. These numbers suggest that it's easier to forget to floss your teeth than to brush your teeth.


An improper flossing technique can damage your gums and teeth. You also need to know the right time to brush and floss for improved dental health. Floss your teeth once every day and remember to brush them with quality toothpaste at least twice a day.


Flossing can help reduce your visits to a dentist and prevent teeth loss. In this guide, we’ll discuss five reasons why your dentist would recommend this oral hygiene practice:

1. Prevent Buildup of Plaque

Flossing and brushing are effective ways to prevent plaque buildup on the teeth and gum line. Plaque takes the form of a colorless, sticky film that gathers on the teeth. It can take a while to form if you fail to follow a proper oral hygiene routine.


Plaque develops when sugary or starchy foods mix with bacteria inside your mouth. This combination allows bacteria to release acids to break down the sugary/starchy foods. The colorless film will spread around your gum line and teeth if you take a long time before brushing or flossing your teeth.


You may develop an infection in your tooth enamel as the plaque continues spreading. The bacteria surrounding the plaque will release acids that may weaken your teeth. If you fail to remove these acids through flossing and brushing, you may develop cavities.



The plaque on your teeth may harden further and transform into tartar if you don't seek dental care. Tartar is a hard calcified material that can make it difficult to brush your teeth. It may also put you at high risk of contracting gum disease.

2. Minimize the Risk of Cavities

Tooth cavities are the damaged areas of the enamel that have holes or tiny openings. You risk developing them if you follow a bad oral hygiene routine. When left untreated, cavities can result in an infection, tooth loss, or toothache.


Treatments for cavities like crowns and fillings are pretty costly to procure. Furthermore, the cavities won't go away easily and may grow in size depending on how you take care of your teeth.


You should floss your teeth at least once every day to get rid of plaque, which puts you at risk of cavities. Be gentle when flossing your teeth to avoid harming your gum line. You also risk exposing your tooth's root to bacteria with an improper flossing technique.



When caught early, cavities can be reversed with a good oral hygiene routine. The routine should involve a proper diet, flossing, and brushing to restore essential minerals in the teeth and stop decay.

3. Boost Gum Health

Flossing is one of the low-cost and easy ways you can use to maintain the health of your gums. It helps remove plaque, which may develop into tartar and put you at risk of gum disease. Flossing also prevents bacteria from entering your gums and reduces the likelihood of bleeding gums.


Gums provide a protective lining to the teeth and help reduce the friction of food being chewed in the mouth. They are prone to infection, inflammation, and irritation if you fail to follow good dental hygiene. An infection of the gums may also spread across the body and cause impairment when left untreated.


Bad oral hygiene can result in gingivitis, which is the inflammation of the gums. When left untreated, gingivitis may develop into periodontitis that may pull away from the gums from the teeth. Periodontitis can also weaken the teeth, resulting in teeth loss and causing body pain.



Healthy gums can result in fewer dental cavities, fresher breath, and reduced dental sensitivity. A proper flossing technique will make your gums look firm and pink and reduce gum recession.

4. Prevents Bad Breath

Bad breath arises when bacteria in your mouth react with tiny food particles. As bacteria break these particles into acids, they release gases with a foul smell.


Flossing can help prevent the growth of bacteria in your teeth and boost blood flow to your gums. It also helps detangle food particles stuck in between the teeth. Regular brushing and flossing can help control the foul smell and improve gum and teeth health.



You won't have to carry around mint gum and mouthwash to control bad breath with good dental floss. You'll no longer have buildups of plaque or tartar, which worsen your breath. A good breath can improve your self-confidence when speaking to people who are close to you.

5. Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease, Respiratory Illness, and Diabetes

A dentist in Honesdale PA would recommend flossing to prevent gingivitis. This gum disease may introduce bacteria to your bloodstream and weaken your organs. You risk developing blood clots or heart disease when the bacteria attack your circulatory system.


Bacteria from your mouth can also travel down your respiratory tract to the lungs. Flossing can help prevent oral bacteria from causing pneumonia and bronchitis.



An improper flossing technique may make bacteria gather in your mouth faster. The oral bacteria may trigger a stress response and result in high production of glucose. It may increase blood sugar levels and make you prone to diabetes.

Find a Dentist in Honesdale PA Today

Your oral hygiene practices should involve regular brushing and flossing. Flossing can help remove oral bacteria, plaque, and tartar, making you prone to gum disease and tooth decay. Supplement the flossing with regular dental cleanings for improved oral health.



You can count on Complete Health Dentistry of NEPA for personalized dental care services. We address patients’ needs with precision for the best outcomes. Complete a dental consultation form on our site to schedule an appointment with a dentist.

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