It’s safe to say that floss is the most neglected preventative care in the United States. The average person should be using between 122-182 yards of floss annually (figuring at 12-18 inches per day), yet they only buy an average of 18, and 73% of Americans admit that they’d rather go pick up some milk or eggs than floss their teeth.
We all know we need to floss. The proof is in the guilty feeling we get as we prepare for the dentist to ask us the dreaded question, “Are you flossing every day?” Yet, when we take the two minutes to brush each day, many of us put off flossing for another use of our time.
Why is Flossing So Important?
Flossing is vital for getting into the tight areas between teeth that brushing can’t reach. When you floss you remove plaque before it has a chance to collect and harden into tartar. Flossing before you brush not only gets rid of food lodged into your gums and between teeth, but it also makes your tooth paste more effective, putting fluoride in those areas that need it most. (Source: ADA.org)
Some people use sugarless gum or mouthwash in place of flossing, telling themselves that it’s as effective. Both act aggressively against plaque, but aren’t a match for stuck on tartar, while floss can best it. That tartar can lead to gingivitis, the first step toward gum disease. Swollen gums often bleed when brushed, as well as open up the mouth for further tartar build-up. If not reversed, severe gum disease can lead to tooth and bone loss. (Source: Perio.org) If gum disease weren’t enough, a refusal to floss can also lead to other mouth diseases, such as periodontal disease or heart disease.
“There are a lot of studies that suggest that oral health, and gum disease in particular, are related to serious conditions like heart disease,” says periodontist Sally Cram, DDS, a spokeswoman for the American Dental Association. (Source: WebMD.com)
How Flossing Saves You Money
In addition to all the pain involved with the above conditions, flossing can save you some green. Each small container costs somewhere around $2, meaning you’ll spend about $10 per year on floss per person. Paired with a couple dental cleanings per year at somewhere between $75 and $150, your preventative care is under $350 per year. That’s peanuts compared to the costs for treatment for the conditions not flossing could conjure.
Gum disease treatment costs may be as little as $500, or as much as $10,000, depending on how far advanced it is in your oral cavity. According to Web MD, the overall cost of heart disease, including heart conditions, strokes, peripheral artery disease and high blood pressure, is upwards of $400 billion!
It’s plain that preventative oral care is the best choice for your wallet as well as your mouth.
How to Floss Correctly
One thing we stress when we teach children how to floss (and parents how to help them) is that floss doesn’t just go between the teeth. You also need to rub the waxy string along the sides of the teeth below the gum line. Here are the proper steps to get the most out of your flossing:
Step 1: Break off 12-18 inch length of floss and wrap around your two index fingers.
Step 2: Use thumbs to hold floss taut, and gently guide floss between teeth, taking care not to snap floss into the gums as this can irritate them.
Step 3: Using a slight rubbing motion, guide floss up to gum line. Guide floss in a slightly C shaped motion around each tooth side, going below the gum line next to each one.
Step 4: Gently wiggle floss from between teeth, roll up used area on floss on one index finger, and repeat on all teeth. Don’t forget to do the backside of the last molar in each quadrant!
Proper Flossing Equals Pearly Smile
A healthy smile is proof of proper care, and by flossing and brushing regularly you’re sure to have a radiant smile. If you have questions about flossing, feel free to give our office a call or ask us at your next dental check-up. We’d be happy to answer them and get you or your child on the right track to a lifetime of proper flossing habits.
HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!
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