What Happens to Your Teeth if You Forget to Floss Regularly?
Posted on 9/21/2020 by Fairmount Dental Center
If there is one regret that most of our patients have, it's that they wish they had been regular at flossing. It's the one daily routine that can pay rich dividends to your overall dental health and save you considerable pain later. Even those who are diligent about brushing their teeth twice a day - as they should be - may not take flossing seriously, only to realize that their oral health care regimen was only half effective.
The Benefits of Regular Flossing
There are parts of your teeth that your regular brush won't be able to reach no matter how hard you try. These are the spaces between your teeth where food particles are likely to be stuck, leading to the formation of plaque, a thin layer of bacterial growth on tooth surfaces. Dental floss will reach out to those narrow crevices and get rid of debris and other particles that could lay the ground for serious dental conditions later.
What Happens When You Don't Floss?
Plaque can eventually progress to tartar if left unchecked. Uncleaned food debris can also lead to the formation of cavities that, once they advance, may require surgeries. If you don't floss regularly, your teeth and gum will be prone to infections and structural damage in the long run that may require surgeries like a root canal. In the short term, you could also develop bad breath due to plaque and tartar. In the long run, lack of flossing can also lead to loss of teeth.
How Often Should You Floss?
There's only so much that can be accomplished by brushing, even if it's twice a day. Our dentists recommend that you floss at least once a day, either before or after you brush, for the holistic health of your teeth and gum.
Dental Blog | Dentist Salem, OR | Fairmount Dental Center Fairmount Dental Center has created this dental blog to help patients and the community. Click to learn more about dental procedures, home care and more! Fairmount Dental Center, 1524 Commercial St. SE, Salem, OR 97302-4310 ^ (503) 362-8364 ^ fairmountdentalcenter.com ^ 10/7/2024 ^ Related Terms: dentist Salem OR ^
If there is one regret that most of our patients have, it's that they wish they had been regular at flossing. It's the one daily routine that can pay rich dividends to your overall dental health and save you considerable pain later. Even those who are diligent about brushing their teeth twice a day - as they should be - may not take flossing seriously, only to realize that their oral health care regimen was only half effective. 
