Do I really need to floss? — a question our dentists and dental hygienists get asked often. The hard truth is that yes, you really need to floss daily. Flossing is one of the best things you can do for your oral health and is more important than brushing in terms of preventing periodontal disease. Unfortunately, only 2-5% of people floss regularly.
Wasn’t Flossing Debunked?
Long story short, no. Back in 2016 a story came out stating that flossing was found to not be effective. This story was sensationalized with click-bait headlines. The truth is that this review of past studies was misleading. Small clinical studies have found flossing in addition to brushing reduced gingivitis significantly better than tooth brushing alone. If you do not floss, you miss cleaning 35% of your tooth surfaces. The American Dental Association and dentists still recommend you floss daily.
The Importance of Flossing and How to Do It Correctly
Flossing reaches areas your toothbrush cannot — between teeth and under the gum line, which together make up 35% of your tooth surface. When left to fester, plaque turns into tartar, which then irritates your gums causing inflammation and gum disease. Flossing also keeps cavities from forming between your teeth.
To floss correctly: measure a strand of dental floss at 18 inches and wrap it securely around your index fingers. Insert the floss gently between your teeth without too much force. Loop the floss around the surface of each tooth and move it gently between teeth using an up and down motion. Use a new piece of floss for each row. If you’re slacking on flossing, get in for a cleaning and check-up with your dentist.