Why is Flossing Recommended?

Even the most thorough oral hygiene routine may not be enough to keep the tooth entirely plaque-free. The tooth has sides which are difficult to reach during brushing. To aid in oral care, flossing is recommended by dentists to clean difficult to reach areas of the tooth.

Issues on flossing

There are some articles being circulated online proposing that you will not get any benefit from flossing. The article further advised that it is best that you stop doing it. The article was a sure hit online and has spread like wildfire ever since it was published.

The truth about flossing

Despite the bad reputation that flossing received from the article, dentists continue to support and recommend flossing. Proper flossing, with emphasis on “proper”, is very useful for oral care. Oral health care professionals believe that there are positive effects in using a piece of floss to clean your teeth, and it outweighs some possible harmful effects of flossing. Hence, here are the reasons why flossing is frequently recommended:

• Proper flossing can be very helpful in cleaning the plaque around the tooth. This plaque should be dislodged so that it does not build up and solidify. Once it builds up around the tooth, it will put you at risk for a tooth cavity and gum disease.
• Normal brushing techniques are not enough to sweep the plaque away as they are in between teeth gaps. These gaps are quite tight which prevent the brush from reaching them.  This is where the floss is useful. It can go through these gaps and take out the plaque that was not removed after brushing.
• Furthermore, by removing the plaque, you can prevent the formation of tartar, a hard mineral that is fixated in the tooth. This mineral is difficult to remove, and it might encourage you to clean your teeth aggressively which can lead to bleeding and swelling of gums.

Though the effectivity of flossing is highly debatable nowadays, it is still a very useful method for oral care. Its positive effects may only be a few, but it pays to take this extra procedure to ensure a good tooth condition.