Dr. Ferullo Answers Question, “Is Flossing Necessary?”
There has been a lot of talk about “is flossing necessary” to maintain oral health. Some claim there are no official studies proving that flossing improves oral health. Others claim flossing is a waste of time, money and effort, merely serving as a means of generating income for corporations. The media tends to amplify these arguments. Dr. Ferullo, your Downtown Dentist in St. Petersburg would like to answer this question.
The Media and Flossing
In particular, the media made a big deal about the dietary guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that failed to explicitly recommend flossing. Thankfully, the department clarified the matter by issuing a statement admitting that research focused on sugar intake rather than flossing. As a result, no mention of flossing was included in the dietary guidelines.
The moral of the story is to take media reports about flossing with a grain of salt. The omission of flossing in the HHS report does not mean flossing is pointless. In fact, the HHS is on record as stating that flossing is important to maintaining oral hygiene. The HHS published a statement saying that cleaning between the teeth with floss and interdental brushes serves to disrupt and eliminate plaque from the teeth and gum lines. As a result, the odds of suffering tooth decay and gum disease are greatly diminished.
Additional evidence of the importance of flossing is found online at the CDC’s Division of Oral Health and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research websites. Add in the fact that the American Dental Association (ADA) has declared flossing to be an important means of maintaining a healthy mouth and it is easy to see why most people floss at least once per day.
How Flossing Boosts Oral Health
The majority of bacterial species in one’s mouth are bad. If plaque is allowed to build up in the mouth, over 500 of these bacterial species will thrive. The result will inevitably be tooth decay and/or gum disease. The bacteria’s acid hastens tooth decay. Furthermore, the body’s immune system attempts to combat bacteria within the built-up plaque with gum inflammation.
The bottom line is that brushing can only clean a portion of the teeth. Flossing allows one to clean the spaces that a toothbrush can’t cleanse. This is the type of comprehensive plaque removal your mouth needs to eliminate plaque and combat tooth decay and gingivitis. So the next time you wonder, is flossing necessary? The answer is absolutely.
The Best Way to Clean Between Teeth
The ADA and HHS advise the use of interdental cleaners. This term refers to cleaning between the teeth with anything from water flossers to dental picks, wooden plaque removers, diminutive brushes and traditional floss.
Consult with Dr. Ferullo to figure out which of these interdental cleaner is optimal for your particular oral health care needs. The truth is that the space between your teeth is highly unique. The interdental cleaner that works best for your neighbor might not be ideal for your mouth.
Patients are encouraged to ask Dr. Ferullo how to properly use a certain interdental cleaner. The manner in which you clean between your teeth is of the utmost importance to your as improper use of cleaners can damage your gums.
The Proper Way to Floss
It is imperative that you floss at least once per day. Not only is flossing necessary but it must be done correctly to achieve the best results. Do not quickly slide the floss between the teeth. Move the floss along the sides of each tooth with care. Don’t force the floss between the teeth and yank it right back out. Jostle the floss around when between the teeth to loosen the plaque and bits of food. Floss between all teeth. Don’t forget to floss those rear molars as they perform the majority of the chewing.
Regular Visits to Your Dentist
Not only is flossing necessary but so are regular visits to a dentist. If you are looking for a St. Petersburg dentist, then look no further than Dr. Ferullo. Their office combines cutting edge technology with compassionate care that takes dentistry to the next level. Call to schedule your appointment today and our office can help you with all your dentistry needs including answering any other questions you may have about flossing.
