Why You Should Floss After Thanksgiving

When you eat most meals, you finish everything and move on. Not at Thanksgiving. Often, families gather together and make the event a whole-afternoon feast. They snack first, dive into multiple helpings of the main courses, and then finish by taste-testing several desserts. While this can be a fun, once-a-year tradition, it can also leave children and adults at risk of developing gum disease in Greensburg, PA, unless they take precautionary measures like flossing.

Why Do Dentists Recommend Flossing?

When you go to your dentist for a routine checkup, the hygienist flosses your teeth and reminds you to do likewise. Why, though, if you are already brushing? Flossing works well because it gets in between teeth and under the gumline, where toothbrush bristles can miss many spots. By adding flossing to your oral hygiene daily, you help remove small particles of food that could eventually lead to plaque buildup.

What Is the Link Between Flossing and Reduced Gum Disease Risk?

Gum disease is believed to affect nearly half the adult population in the United States. The condition begins as an infection in the gums, and without unique dental treatments, it progresses rapidly. Unmanaged gum disease almost always leads to eventual tooth loss. When you floss, you reduce the chances of developing gum disease because you eliminate the debris that can lead to infection. Without the right conditions, gum disease cannot take hold and advance from gingivitis, the earliest to advanced stages of periodontitis.

What Are a Few Tried-and-True Flossing Tips?

Do you like the idea of stopping gum disease just by flossing after Thanksgiving dinner and other meals? Try a few tips to make flossing more accessible, especially if you are new to doing it all the time. First, know that your gums will have to get used to flossing. They may bleed initially when you floss, but as they get accustomed to flossing, they will bleed less often. Secondly, you may want to try unwaxed and waxed floss varieties. Some patients prefer one over another. Frequently, people with tooth crowding like waxed floss because it glides easily between the teeth. Finally, ask your hygienist to show you the perfect flossing technique the next time you have a dental appointment in Greensburg, PA. That way, you can be sure you are flossing correctly, making it harder for gum disease to present itself.