Is Flossing Important?
“Flossing, when done properly, disturbs the microorganisms under the gums that cause inflammation and gum disease. In addition, it also removes food debris that can get caught between the teeth and cause cavities. Flossing, in our opinion, is one of the most beneficial things you can do to maintain good oral health. Fads come and go, but flossing in our practice is here to stay.”
The above quote from Cincinnati dentist Dr. Tara Hardin touches on some of the reasons flossing is such an important part of your daily oral health routine. Let’s take a closer look at how this simple and quick task, when performed both morning and night, helps reduce risks for a host of oral and systemic health issues related to gum inflammation and disease.
Untreated gum disease can lead to significant discomfort, chronic bad breath, and tooth loss. Advanced forms of gum disease have been shown to increase risks for a number of serious and even fatal health conditions such as:
- Heart attack and stroke
- Kidney and liver failure
- Pancreatic and breast cancer
- Pregnancy complications
- Alzheimer’s and dementia
Flossing helps reduce your risk for gum disease and, along with it, health risks posed to your entire body by bacterial infection in the gums. During your routine examinations, we would be happy to help you master the flossing technique, better enabling you to integrate this irreplaceable addition into your daily dental routine and to help keep your teeth and body healthy for years to come.
To schedule your next appointment, please contact Hardin Advanced Dentistry online or by calling (513) 234-5531 today. We serve patients living in the Greater Cincinnati area as well as Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana.
