Your teeth are important to you right? You would like to keep your natural teeth rather than wear dentures right? You’re proud of your pearly whites, and brush all the time to keep them clean and white, right? But, do you floss? A recent study showed that if you’re an American, there is less than a 50/50 chance that you do. Is flossing really that important, you ask? Yes. In today’s blog your Ankeny, IA dentist, Dr. Amanda Foust, discusses the importance of flossing.
Why Is Flossing So Important?
Ten percent of Americans never floss, and only 49 percent floss daily. That’s better than the British. According to studies, 7 million Britons don’t brush their teeth daily and 21 percent don’t floss regularly. Only about 5 percent of the British population flosses regularly.
Many people think that flossing is done to get the food out from between your teeth. While that is one worthwhile goal, the reason for flossing is to prevent periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is the major cause of tooth loss among adults. And remember? You want to keep your teeth, right?
Toothbrush vs. Floss
Your toothbrush is fine for cleaning flat surfaces but it can’t get in between your teeth to prevent the buildup of plaque. Once plaque is removed, it immediately begins to form again. That’s why it is important to brush and floss regularly. If plaque is not removed it can cause gingivitis (irritation, inflammation, and bleeding of the gums), which can lead to periodontal disease and tooth loss. A 26-year Norway study found that participants whose teeth were surrounded by inflamed gums were 46 times more likely to lose their teeth than those whose teeth were surrounded by healthy gums.
Mandatory flossing didn’t catch on until the 1980s, but the idea of flossing between teeth began back in 1815. A New Orleans dentist Levi Spear Parmly suggested his patients clean between their teeth with a thin silk thread. Humans are not the only ones who floss. Long-tailed macaques wind long strands of human hair around their fingers and use it to floss hard to reach places. While the macaques are flossing instinctively, it took humans years to figure out that flossing can help you keep your teeth.
About Dr. Amanda Foust
For more information regarding the benefits of flossing, call Dental Impressions of Ankeny, IA to schedule an appointment with Dr. Foust at (515) 965-0230. Since 2006, Dr. Amanda J. Foust has proudly provided compassionate and quality care to families in Ankeny, Alleman, Elkhart, Bondurant, and all surrounding communities.
