Why do we need to floss?

‘You need to floss more’..... Is this a common phrase you hear when seeing a hygienist (or me!)? Why do we need to awkwardly get ‘string’ in between the teeth when we brush our teeth two times a day! What’s the obsession with flossing?

Well here’s the scoop. If you took out all of your teeth and looked at them in 3D (you know, with those cool coloured glasses) you would see that there are two whole surfaces of each tooth that cannot be reached with a toothbrush, no matter how fancy! And forget about the toothbrushes that ‘floss’ for you. If you don’t floss, you are basically only cleaning 50 per cent of your mouth with a toothbrush...gross.

Another reason to floss is that you might notice that your gums bleed when flossing and it’s likely that this isn’t because you are being too rough with the floss. Gums bleed because bacteria (plaque) has been left in between the teeth for so long that they swell up and fill with blood to try and fight what the body perceives as an infection. So as a hygienist, when I see your gums bleed, I see an active disease.

So what’s going to happen if you don’t floss? ...Well to answer that, let’s look at what happens when being an active flosser!

Number one is healthy gums, with no bleeding! This would be the equivalent to having a termite free house. So not flossing would mean your mouth is literally infested with bacteria (or termites if you want to run with the analogy). Not pretty and definitely not healthy!

Secondly you are able to minimise your risk of getting a ‘hole’ i.e. decay in between your teeth. This is a common place for decay to develop. Another plus to flossing – pain prevention, cost reduction. Is there nothing better?!

Thirdly but certainly not the least, you can be rest assured that your mouth is a healthy place, and since it’s the gateway to the rest of your body, that’s a pretty good thing! There are more and more studies showing having chronic inflammation is extremely detrimental to your heart and general health. Gingivitis or gum inflammation is one of those chronic inflammatory conditions. And flossing is a simple and sure-fire way of keeping that under control.

If you find that flossing is quite difficult, firstly, you’re not alone! Secondly, let me know! There are plenty of other products available that can make it easier for you and importantly, help you be healthy and well.

Keep Flossing,

Kris x