Serving patients of Erwin, Jonesborough, and Greeneville TN
“Make sure you floss.” Your dentist probably has been telling you that your whole life. You know that the American Dental Association recommends that each of us floss daily. But there’s a growing school of thought that you should actually floss twice per day. Tusculum Dental Care wants to explain the benefits of doubling your daily flossing regimen.
Why should you consider flossing twice per day?
When you floss in the morning and also at bedtime, you’re bolstering your overall defense against tooth decay, gum disease, and even bad breath. There are areas of your mouth that you can’t reach even with the most diligent regimen of brushing; that’s why flossing is so important. Flossing helps to remove plaque, a natural biofilm that develops naturally on all of our teeth. This biofilm is soft and can be removed with brushing and flossing. If it isn’t removed, plaque can harden into tartar in as little as 24 hours. Removing tartar is a much more arduous process, usually only being completely addressed through a thorough professional dental cleaning.
When tartar forms, it tends to accumulate under the gum line, becoming a breeding ground for the bacteria and acids that lead to the infection that causes gum disease. By flossing daily, you remove more of the plaque that can build up underneath the gum line, preventing it from hardening into tartar.
Flossing twice a day can be especially beneficial if you eat a diet with an abundance of hard, sticky, and stringy foods. These foods are more likely to get caught in between your teeth. Popcorn, apple skins, leafy greens, and stringy meats such as spare ribs are among the most likely culprits. Also, upping your flossing game could really help if you have a dental crown, implant, or bridge, as food particles and bacteria tend to get trapped around or under these restorations.
Adding an extra round of flossing to your daily regimen of oral hygiene may take an adjustment, but it’s worth it—especially if it lowers your risk of developing gum disease, which affects 50 percent of all Americans over the age of 30, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Gum disease also is one of the leading causes of tooth loss among adults in the United States. But, you can prevent gum disease by taking good care of your teeth and gums, which includes daily flossing!
Professional dental care in Greeneville
At Tusculum Dental Care, check-ups include a thorough dental cleaning known as prophylaxis. One of our experienced and compassionate dental hygienists will remove all the accumulated plaque and tartar from your teeth and gum line, significantly lowering your risk of both cavities and gum disease. Having these dental cleanings once every six months goes a long way to maintaining your oral health. Allow the professionals at Tusculum Dental Care to keep you protected against these oral health risks. Dr. Craig Shepherd and Dr. Nathaniel Renner are committed to protecting your oral health over the long term. Call (423) 639-7575 to schedule a consultation.
Tusculum Dental Care is proud to serve patients in the areas of Greeneville, Jonesborough, and Erwin, Tennessee.