- Julianna Sweeney
Why Flossing Is Important For Your Health (& Your Wallet)
Ah flossing, the ever present nuisance that pervades the bedtime bathroom routine.
It can be so tempting (and easy) to skip over this step - especially if you've had a long or exhausting day. There are a few things you're gonna want to know first before you nix that one minute habit from your routine though.
Did you know that flossing daily...
1. Helps to prevent heart disease
That plaque that is found in your mouth is the same plaque that forms in your arteries. The tissue inside your mouth is some of the most absorbent in the body. If you don't practice good dental hygiene, the plaque and bacteria in your mouth can enter your bloodstream and cause plaque buildup in your arteries. This can cause an array of issues. Recent research has also found that a person with gum disease has a 20% higher chance of developing heart disease!
2. Helps prevent gum disease
That plaque in your mouth doesn't only stain your teeth - the bacteria in it eats away at your gums and can cause gum disease if not treated properly. At more advanced stages, the gum disease, called periodontitis, not only damages the soft gum tissue but also the underlying ligaments and bone. This can result in major infections, tooth loss, a weakened immune system and as you read above, heart disease.
3. Prevents tooth decay
Before gum disease occurs, the plaque will stain and begin to eat away at your teeth. Weakened enamel leads to cavities, fragile teeth and more. You are also more susceptible to needing to get root canals due to extreme tooth decay.
4. Reduces bad breath
The bad breath that comes from poor dental hygiene is a result of the bacteria that lives in your mouth. Flossing - in conjunction with brushing - lessens the occasion and strength of bad breath.
5. It's easy on your wallet
A 3 pack of floss is like $7 and it takes only about one minute of your time every day to do. Dental and medical procedures on the other hand cost thousands of dollars, are a headache to deal with, are painful and take a lot of your time. The choice is yours.
I won't lie to you, it's hard to keep up the habit - especially on those days where you come home and all you want to do is lay down in bed and go to sleep. Personally, I always think back to Finding Nemo (the root canal scene) and that snaps me back to reality. I was scarred as a kid seeing that scene that I vowed to myself I would never go through that (it's worked so far - let's hope I can keep it up)!
I hope these fun facts are helpful and get you to think twice next time you're debating whether or not to pick up a piece of that floss. Let me know what you think below!
Sending love always,
J.S.
References:
https://www.smilesforlifeortho.com/blog/2019/10/why-flossing-is-important
https://www.smilearizonadentistry.com/blog/why-flossing-is-important