There are a number of things that dentists recommend be done on a daily basis to help with the required maintenance between visits. Anything a dentist recommends is much more likely to help on various levels. The steps required by dentists are not only good for your teeth, but they are also likely to have some sort of cosmetic benefit. Some of these recommended items include brushing your teeth at least twice a day and using a bacteria-fighting mouthwash. Flossing is not unlike brushing in that it has dental and cosmetic benefits.
Flossing, when done correctly, removes food debris between the teeth and strengthens the gums through friction. If food is left between the teeth, it can cause plaque to form and allow bacteria to damage the gums. When bacteria stay on the teeth, they can cause the enamel to break down and lead to cavities. It can also result in gum disease where the gums pull away from the teeth, almost as if they are trying to get away from the toxic environment.
In cosmetic brows, flossing removes visible food stains between the teeth. If one floss correctly and often enough, those awkward spinach-on-the-front-tooth moments should never happen. Obviously, it’s not possible to floss after every bite of food (and that would also be a bit ridiculous in terms of flossing), but enough should be done so that the food doesn’t have a chance to stick to the teeth.
Another more cosmetic benefit of dental floss is that it prevents bad breath. When food is left between teeth to deteriorate and form plaque and cause gums to become infected or inflamed, the bacteria that rot food and teeth also cause bad breath. While some would argue that one has to be pretty close to smell someone’s bad breath, many are amazed at how far away people can be and still smell if someone has bad breath.
Flossing removes food that breaks down through bacteria and causes bad breath. The fewer bacteria we have in our mouths, the less odorous or stinky our breath will be. Obviously, brushing your teeth and using a mouthwash will go a long way to prevent this by removing dead cells from the lining of your cheeks and the surface of your tongue, but isn’t it a better idea to remove food from between your teeth to minimize the amount? total bacteria present at all?