Do I Really Need to Floss?

Do I Really Need to Floss?

Why flossing is important

You’ve heard all about flossing, and you wonder why you really need to floss. Isn’t it enough to just brush your teeth? The truth is flossingbrushing only reaches a few surfaces of your teeth. Brushing doesn’t do anything to reach in between your teeth, where bacteria can hide. Flossing gets in between our teeth, to remove plaque and harmful bacteria. There is a saying in dentistry: “Only floss the teeth you want to keep.” Dr. Thomas Faiver in East Lansing, Michigan wants you to know why flossing is so important to the health of your mouth.

The normal bacteria in your mouth can combine with hidden sugars in foods to produce a powerful acid. This acid can eat through your tooth enamel and down into the softer layers of your tooth, producing tooth decay. If your tooth decay goes untreated, it will get bigger and deeper, reaching the inner pulp of your tooth, and then guess what? You need a root canal, and if things get bad enough, you may need your tooth extracted! Most decay starts in between your teeth, right where you should be flossing!

Dr. Faiver wants you to know your gums and bone supporting your teeth also directly benefit from flossing. When you don’t floss, bacterial plaque builds up and produces toxins that cause gum inflammation and bleeding. Bleeding is the first sign of gum disease. Gum disease can progress and bacterial plaque can also start destroying the bone and soft tissue supporting your teeth. This process turns the shallow area you should have been flossing, into a deep pocket, nearly impossible to keep clean. Now, you have periodontal disease.

You need to begin a regular habit of flossing to keep your gums and teeth healthy and to prevent:

  • Decay in between your teeth caused by bacterial acid
  • A root canal or extraction caused from deep decay
  • Gum inflammation from undisturbed plaque between your teeth
  • Periodontal disease progression

Dr. Faiver can talk with you more about the importance of flossing and show you proper flossing technique to keep your mouth in good health. You owe it to yourself to do everything to keep your teeth, so start flossing today! Don’t hesitate to call Dr. Thomas Faiver in East Lansing, Michigan if you have questions about the importance of flossing. Call today!

Contact Us

Our Location

Office Hours

Monday:

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Tuesday:

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Wednesday:

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Thursday:

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Friday:

Closed

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed