When it comes to oral health, small, everyday habits often have the most significant impact. Your Utah dentist is there for routine cleanings, check-ups, and any specialized treatments you may need, but the real work begins at home. The choices you make each day—especially when it comes to habits like flossing—play a massive role in the health of your teeth and gums. What you do (or skip) outside the dentist’s office can make all the difference in maintaining a bright, healthy smile.
Flossing and brushing are the two significant defenses against cavities and other dental diseases, yet only about 32% of adults floss daily. Flossing takes about two minutes of your day and can keep your breath fresh, prevent disease, and stimulate your gums to avoid inflammation. Since flossing is essential to oral health, here are five facts about flossing that will encourage you to keep or make it a new habit today.
1. Flossing Is Like a Massage to Your Gums
Think about how much you love a back massage after a long day. Your gums love good floss, too. Similar to how a massage helps to loosen the muscles in your back, regular flossing stimulates your gums to keep them healthy and comfortable.
Flossing might hurt a little the first time you do it, just like your first massage might hurt as it works out those pesky knots. Don’t let initial floss discomfort stop you from flossing. You must floss more and build up your gum strength if it hurts.
2. Having Enough Floss Is Important
When it comes to floss, less is not more. You need a long enough strand, about 18–20 inches, to get a good grip and avoid slipping. Grab a long strand and wrap the floss around each of your middle fingers, leaving about an inch of floss between them. If you’re having trouble with the technique, consider using a floss threader to help hold the floss in place.
We often recommend a floss pick for children. Teaching kids to floss at a young age is one of the best habits to instill in them. Chances are, if they do it while they’re young, they’ll carry the habit with them forever.
3. Flossing Helps to Clean Your Mouth
According to WebMD, flossing helps with about 40% of your mouth cleaning. Brushing cleans the chewing surface and the front and back of your teeth, while flossing helps to clean the remaining portion.
Flossing removes bacteria-containing plaque buildup and gets all those in-between spots your toothbrush can’t reach. It’s vital for overall oral health.
4. Flossing Helps with Halitosis
While everyone’s opinions may differ on political views and interests, we can all agree that bad breath is undesirable. Nobody wishes for it. Halitosis, or extremely bad breath, is often a result of plaque buildup and extra bacteria in the mouth. Flossing and brushing help rid your mouth of bacteria and keep your breath fresh.
Bad breath can be crippling to self-esteem. Flossing can be a critical factor in rebuilding your self-confidence. If you brush, floss, and use mouthwash regularly, you will see a major improvement in your breath and confidence to spark conversations with people around you.
5. Bleeding Is Normal in the Beginning
Seeing blood in your mouth can be a scary sight. However, bleeding gums are normal when you first start flossing or if you floss inconsistently. Seeing blood DOES NOT mean you should stop flossing. It means quite the contrary. Bleeding means you need to stimulate your gums more often and continue flossing.
Gum stimulation increases their blood flow, removing toxins and benefiting your gums’ immune response. Starting flossing can cause bleeding gums, but your gums will toughen after about a week of consistent flossing. Eventually, you won’t see any blood when flossing. If your gums continue to bleed after two weeks of flossing, it’s best practice to visit your Weber County dentist to ensure there’s not a more serious problem.
Flossing is about so much more than just achieving a dazzling smile—it’s a key player in your overall oral health. The fresh, polished feeling you get afterward? That’s simply the cherry on top of a much bigger picture. Think of flossing as your teeth’s nightly ritual, a much-needed massage that keeps your gums and teeth in optimal shape. Your teeth work hard for you all day long; it’s only fair they get a little TLC in return.
If flossing has yet to be a consistent habit for you, now is the perfect time to change that. Make it your mission to prioritize your oral health starting today. Stock up on floss, make it a part of your daily routine, and from here on out, never skip a session.
You’ve heard the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Consider this: A daily floss session keeps the dentist at bay! Of course, regular check-ups and cleanings are still essential every six months, but daily flossing helps you maintain healthier gums and teeth between visits. Give your mouth the care it deserves—and watch your smile flourish!