Flossing is not commonly viewed as most people’s favorite activity. Brushing teeth seems to be universally accepted and practiced, but running a small piece of dental floss through teeth seems tedious, so many often “forget” or simply refuse to do it. Unfortunately, neglecting to clean between teeth can harm more than just your smile. It can also spell disaster for your overall health. Discover what problems can arise when you don’t floss and why you shouldn’t wait to start taking better care of your teeth.

Failure to Floss: Which Problems Can Arise?

Whether you choose not to floss or you accidentally forget, forgoing this step in your oral hygiene routine can become problematic over time.

Flossing works to remove harmful bacteria and plaque that forms between teeth throughout the day. It lowers your risk of gum disease and ensures your teeth remain in place longer. But when you only clean the surfaces of your teeth and not in-between, you run the risk of experiencing gum inflammation and bleeding as well as bone and tooth loss.

But your smile isn’t the only thing that suffers. Should the infection caused by gum disease enter the bloodstream, it can spread throughout the body and cause the following to form:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• A decline in cognitive function
• Heart disease
• Respiratory illness
• Kidney problems
• Poor gut health

Any one of these problems can lead to costly and timely forms of treatment. You’ll require regular visits to your local physician so that you can receive proper care to avoid a heart attack, stroke, or other serious health conditions.

How to Incorporate Flossing Into Your Normal Routine

If you want to ensure that your smile, health, and well-being remain in better shape with each passing year, you’ll need to make sure that you start to incorporate flossing into your daily routine, but how?

There are ways to do this, such as:

• Finding a flossing method that works for you. If using dental floss is a struggle, try purchasing a water irrigator (i.e., WaterPik) or flossers to make the process easier.
• Rewarding yourself when you’ve flossed each day for a week or a month.
• Remembering that a few minutes out of your day is worth the time and effort if you want to remain healthy.
• Asking a family member or friend to help hold you accountable.

Flossing possesses immense benefits, but so does brushing, rinsing, eating healthy foods, wearing protective mouth gear, and giving up unhealthy habits. Make sure that you’re taking the time to survey all the way you take care of your oral and overall health. In doing so, you’ll find that this commitment is well worth the investment.

About the Author
Dr. Monica Boehmer is a family dentist with more than 20 years of experience. Helping patients of all ages, she and her dental team are pleased to offer preventive services designed to stop problems before they start. When finding that flossing can be a difficult practice for some patients to adopt, she can offer helpful tips to make the process easier. Contact us at (505) 271-8009 to let us help you take better care of your oral health.