Several articles were published recently telling people that they no longer needed to floss. Many dentists, including us, disagree with this.
Some of the recent commotion points to the U.S. Government’s release of a revised Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which has previously contained a recommendation for flossing. The recommendation was removed in the 2015 version. The government says they have not changed their opinion regarding flossing as an important oral hygiene practice but decided to focus more on nutrition on the new guidelines. Unfortunately, this resulted in many people who thought that flossing was no longer necessary or helpful due to this misunderstanding.
The Canadian Dental Association still firmly believes in flossing and lists recommendations on how to floss properly on their website. Dentists have seen results from flossing properly and we would encourage you to continue the practice.
There are many benefits to flossing your teeth at least once a day. Brushing your teeth alone will not reach in-between your teeth, where food can get stuck. When left untouched it will eventually rot and cause bad breath.
Flossing also removes bacteria and plaque. If not removed, plaque will harden into tartar which will need to be removed with a professional cleaning. If you have significant tartar buildup, it will be harder to get your teeth clean and your gums may bleed as a result.
Bleeding gums may be a sign of gingivitis, or early gum disease. Gum disease is serious and in advanced stages can cause your gums to pull away from your teeth and do significant damage.
Flossing your teeth at least once a day can help keep your mouth clean. If you don’t currently floss or do floss but don’t think you’re getting good results-check with us at your next visit to make sure you are flossing the correct way. If you think you have plaque or tartar buildup, call us today to schedule a cleaning. For more information have a look at our website or please contact one of our team members as we are always happy to hear from our patients! We take pride in offering the best dental services in Calgary!
Sources:
ADA
