Preventive dentistry is no doubt the name of the game when it comes to taking care of your smile. After all, your only true line of defense is the dental enamel that is present on your teeth, and even that can only provide so much protection. Indeed, your oral health is influenced by a variety of bacteria, diseases, infection, and more, and as such, we must provide effective care to ensure a healthy smile for life. But is each step of your preventive routine really that necessary? In today’s blog, your Leawood, KS dentist takes a look at the way flossing benefits your smile, including how it fights off bacteria that lead to gum disease.
How Food Gets Stuck in Your Teeth
Nothing is more annoying than enjoying your favorite meal when all of a sudden something becomes lodged between your teeth. Sometimes items such as cilantro or spinach may get stuck and go unnoticed, or you might get a tougher substance such as a piece of meat or chip lodged between structures, in which case you can very much feel the concern.
You see, food that gets stuck between teeth not only poses a threat to your smile’s alignment, but it can actually lead to infections in your tissues as well. Indeed, oral bacteria that are present in your mouth tend to feed off of the food you consume, and when particles become stuck, they draw these microorganisms to their location.
Further, once bacteria have swarmed and begun to feed, they can secrete destructive acids that make their way beneath your gum line, which then complicates your overall health. To learn more about this process, give our team a call today.
Prioritizing Gum Health
It is important to recognize that your teeth are not the only factors that contribute to your overall oral health, therefore, more care should be given to your gums, tongue, and roots as well. Indeed, flossing is the primary preventive method used to remove difficult deposits of plaque and tartar, as well as the foods that may have become stuck. In other words, flossing is essential to your oral health because it can deter bacteria and remove plaque deposits that lead to complications such as gum infection and periodontal disease. Give our team a call to learn more today.
Additional Options
In cases where flossing is not practiced regularly and gum infection begins to take hold, your dentist may recommend seeking additional treatment, such as scaling and root planing. This process is necessary when plaque and tartar have begun to form on your teeth roots, and it involves carefully removing this substance from below the gum line.
Learn More Today
Your gum health is just as important as your teeth, and flossing is a necessary part of your preventive routine. Contact Dreem Dentistry in Leawood, KS by calling 913-681-5500 to learn more and schedule your next appointment with our team today.
