Flossing is one of the most important things you can do to protect your teeth against decay and gum disease and yet the vast majority of San Pedro's residents fail to do so on a frequent enough basis. Every day that goes by without you flossing your teeth, you're skipping out on cleaning a stunning 35% of your dentition's surface area. That's like brushing the front of your teeth, but not the back.
Does that make any sense at all? No!
In this four-part article series, experienced dentists in San Pedro address the most common excuses given for not flossing and provide some tips as to how patients can overcome these often minor hurdles. Remember, flossing isn't an additional oral hygiene measure; it's a necessity and should be done every day in conjunction with thorough twice-daily brushing!
Let's start with the first two excuses...
Excuse # 1: I don't often get food stuck between my teeth.San Pedro Dentist: "No matter how narrow the gaps between your teeth may seem, there is ALWAYS sufficient space for millions of microscopic oral bacteria to flourish. And this is the real importance of flossing: it's done to remove as much bacteria as possible from the narrow spaces between your teeth, where your toothbrush cannot reach. This bacteria is actually visible as whitish sticky plaque.
Everyone develops plaque on and between their teeth throughout the course of the day, according to dentists in San Pedro, so if you don't floss every day, you're leaving this bacteria in place where it can do a lot of damage. It's precisely because of this long-term neglect that the most common sites of decay are the spaces between the teeth.
It must also be cautioned that you cannot always feel the food debris that gets trapped in your teeth. Do an experiment: after dinner, brush your teeth and then give them a good flossing. You will be truly shocked at the amount of food you're able to excavate from between your teeth, even after brushing! And if it's not actual bits of food, then it's gross dental plaque.
Excuse # 6: I'm pregnantSan Pedro Dentist: "If you're expecting a child, it's more important than ever for you to maintain good oral health and hygiene! Due to fluctuating hormone levels, you're at a greater risk of developing gingivitis or even full-blown gum disease, which many studies show can lead to preterm labor and low birth weight babies. While you may feel too nauseous to floss in the morning or after a meal, try to establish what time of the day you are well enough to do so and make sure you get a good flossing in."
Remember, the bacteria that reside and multiply in your mouth can easily get into your lungs and stomach. You don't want to put your unborn baby at risk because you don't make the time to floss your teeth.
Stay Tuned for Part 2To read the next common flossing excuse and what San Pedro dentists recommend for overcoming it, stay tuned for the second installment of this four-part article series (coming next week).
Dr. Giri Palani is a cosmetic, general dentist and dental implant dentist who has been serving San Pedro CA and surrounds for many years now. He adopts a holistic approach to providing patients with the dental care they need in order to keep their teeth and gums healthy and beautiful.
Dentist in San Pedro CA, Dr. Palani has received advanced training from some of the world's most respected and prestigious medical facilities.
