Skip to main content

Does flossing really matter?

Recently, we came upon an article, 17 Health Advances Every Woman Deserves to Know released by the editors of the Harvard Woman's Health Watch.

One of the 17 concerns was: does flossing really matter? The simple answer: yes, it does. It reads as followed: A recent report has some people thinking there's no benefit to flossing. But before you toss your floss, consider this: flossing helps prevent periodontal disease, which is linked to higher risk of diabetes, heart disease and dementia. What's more, gum disease is also associated with a greater risk of serious degenerative diseases. To avoid periodontal disease make sure you brush your teeth at least twice a day AND floss before bedtime, eat a healthy diet and have regular dental check ups.

We often get patients that unfortunately don't floss or we get patients that say they do but their teeth tell different stories. Endodontists are known for being the heroes and heroines of saving teeth so we can't express enough how important flossing really is. Even if you don't like it, please floss at least once a day. It's helps remove plaque from the areas between your teeth. Plaque, combined with the sugars of the foods that we eat, case tooth decay. This leads to cavities, in worse situations it leads to root canal treatment, but if no treatment is done it ultimately leads to badly infected teeth that result in one losing a tooth. Also, as the article mentioned it could lead to gum disease and it increases your chance of developing heart disease and dementia.

All in all, as distasteful as it is to floss, it's very important to do so, at least once a day. Floss before going to bed or when you have a moment at work. It's just not worth losing your teeth, developing a habit of flossing will help with overall health and keep you smiling all day, everyday. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Brush (and floss) your teeth!

In the recent Mayo Clinic Health Letter , (Volume 37, Number 4) there was an interesting article on how tooth brushing reduces cardiovascular risks. The article states: Brushing your teeth twice daily is important for maintaining good oral hygiene. This daily routine can also benefit your heart. A study presented at the 2018 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions provides new evidence of this link. The study's 682 participants self-reported their tooth-brushing habits compared with the recommendation of twice a day for at least two minutes each time. Over an average of 28 months of follow-up, those who reported brushing their teeth less frequently and for a shorter duration had three times the risk of a first major cardiovascular event than did those who met the tooth-brushing guidelines. These cardiovascular events included heart attack, stroke, hospitalization for heart failure or dying of a cardiovascular cause. A separate study, published in the December 2018 i...

CBCT Scan: Maxillary Resorption by Tooth #1

Despite years of training and practice, it has been difficult to correctly diagnose what can barely be seen on 2-D intra-oral images. The  Kodak 3D extra oral imaging (CBCT) shows the whole picture from the axial, coronal, and sagittal views. CBCT provides additional information that is essential when used in Endodontics for finding evidence of resorption .  This patient was diagnosed with pain in the maxillary right area. The patient was sent to this office for root canal therapy on tooth 2. Ordinary radiographs did not show a clear picture of the area. A CT was taken and the results show resorption of tooth #2 by tooth #1. Clearly the prognosis is poor. CT scans are recommended to diagnose the relationship of tooth #1 in relationship to tooth #2.   If you're in any doubts as to the prognosis of your patient's tooth, please let us help you save a tooth.

If Your Teeth Could Talk...More Information

If Your Teeth Could Talk... Following up with more information from a blog post on December 30, 2016 of an article by The Wall Street Journal published on December 27, 2011  written by Melinda Beck. An oral history: A dental exam can reveal some telltale signs of broader health problems. Teeth Front: Don't be fooled by very white teeth. Many oral health problems may be lurking unseen.  Tops of back molars: Worn, flattened surfaces indicate stress-related clenching and grinding.  Back of uppers: Area where stomach acid had worn away enamel could indicate bulimia. Gums Red, puffy and inflamed gums are common during pregnancy. Tiny red hemorrhages with spontaneous bleeding may indicate leukemia. Periodontal disease, in which gums pull away from the teeth, can signal diabetes, cardiovascular problems and respiratory diseases. Inside cheeks and lower gums Diffuse brown patches are a sign of Addison's disease, a hormonal disorder. Ulcerated lesions could mean c...