Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and you know what that means! National Flossing Day! This pro-oral hygienic little holiday takes plays the day after Thanksgiving. It’s the perfect time to get out all of that pumpkin pie and turkey that’s stuck between your teeth!
The best preventative weapon against tooth decay and gum disease is flossing and brushing your teeth daily. It’s too bad that flossing is perhaps the least popular oral hygiene task! A whopping 27% of Americans over the age of 18 lie to their dentist about how often they floss. Even more significantly, 36% would rather wash dishes or clean the toilet!
But flossing has irrefutable benefits:
- It reduces risk of cavities: When food is trapped between teeth, it mixes with bacteria and acid to form plaque. This plaque then eats away at tooth enamel, thus creating cavities and tooth decay.
- It fights gum disease: As plaque builds up along the gums from not flossing, you’ll get inflammation (or gingivitis). This can lead to gum disease and other health issues if it isn’t treated.
- It helps you avoid bad breath: Bad breath is often caused by decaying or rotting food particles that get stuck between your teeth. Eventually, these particles release sulfurous compounds that have a terrible stench! Just by flossing every day, you remove trapped food stuffs and bacteria which significantly decreases your chances of bad breath.
With National Flossing Day taking the spotlight right after Thanksgiving Day, we’re hoping you take the opportunity to celebrate with a good floss! And hopefully keep up the good habit daily, long into the future. And remember; floss BEFORE you brush to get maximum benefit. If you have any additional questions or would like to schedule your next appointment at our office, please call us at (562) 434-6414.
