Your mouth contains bacteria that, although naturally occurring, can severely harm your smile over time, especially your gums. So you remove this excess bacteria through your oral hygiene routine. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day scrubs away a significant amount of this bacterial build-up.
But to maximize oral hygiene, you need to floss every day too. Your toothbrush alone will not reach the spaces between your teeth where plaque and other harmful residues can accrue. Gently use floss in these areas to ensure your smile and gums stay protected.
You can feel more encouraged to floss when you understand how it helps your oral health. Read on to learn about three of the many benefits you can notice in your gum health when you floss your teeth at least once a day as directed by your dentist.
Prevent Periodontal Discomfort
If you leave plaque on your smile, oral bacteria can spread and wreak havoc on your dental structure. But build-up between your teeth can cause everyday discomfort as well. If plaque or food particles stay stuck in your smile, you can start to notice soreness in your gums.
Your gums might also bleed and feel easily irritated with the lingering build-up in these spaces between your teeth. Flossing ensures the build-up goes away, so you can avoid these discomforts in your gums.
When you floss for the first time after skipping this regimen, you might notice bleeding or pain in your gums. However, if you continue flossing as often as you should, these acute symptoms should go away. Consistent, thorough flossing will protect your gums from uncomfortable conditions.
Reduce the Risk of Gum Disease
Lingering plaque allows oral bacteria to spread with greater ease across the teeth. Then you can have a higher risk of contracting oral infections, including in the gum tissue. Gum disease refers to a common gum infection that can pose a serious threat to your oral health.
People with gum disease can see bacteria deteriorate the gum tissue, the teeth’s roots, and the jawbone. This can cause irreversible damage to the smile and even tooth loss.
You will need a dentist to treat gum disease since the infection will not go away on its own. So you should prevent contracting it in the first place with proper oral hygiene. And this should include flossing daily to get rid of stubborn build-up between the teeth.
Identify Early Signs of Gum Disease
You will need treatment from your dentist to get rid of gum disease and protect your smile from lasting damage from the infection. The dentist will clear away excess bacteria and build-up with a thorough cleaning technique to treat the problem.
However, advanced cases of gum disease may need more extensive treatment, including gum surgery. The infection is easier to treat when diagnosed early. If you floss regularly, you can find early signs of gum disease.
If you see chronic bleeding when you floss, this is abnormal. The symptom could point to gum disease, so you should tell your dentist about the symptom right away. Contact your dentist about any changes or concerns with your gum health.