{"id":209,"date":"2019-03-07T04:41:37","date_gmt":"2019-03-07T04:41:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hickoryflatdentist.com\/blog\/?p=209"},"modified":"2019-04-07T04:45:15","modified_gmt":"2019-04-07T04:45:15","slug":"dentist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hickoryflatdentist.com\/blog\/2019\/03\/dentist\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It Really Necessary to Floss? Your Dentist Weighs in with the Answer"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"womanOne of the best ways to protect your oral health is to perform oral hygiene on a regular basis. But, is brushing alone sufficient for cleaning your teeth? Your dentist explains why flossing is such an important preventive<\/a> measure, and you\u2019ll learn about the dangers of prolonged bacteria growth.<\/p>\n

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The Threat of Bacteria Explained<\/h2>\n

Bacteria are always present in your mouth. Then, when you eat or drink anything other than water, if there are any leftover particles, they can attract even more microorganisms. Untreated, the latter can lead to tooth and gum decay.<\/p>\n

How to Get the Most Out of Your Oral Hygiene<\/h2>\n

The most common form of oral hygiene is toothbrushing. The back-and-forth motion helps to agitate debris on the teeth, tongue and cheeks so they can be easily removed with a rinse.<\/p>\n

There is a downside to only using a toothbrush, though. It can only clean around 60% of the surface of your teeth. To get a more thorough cleaning, dental floss is required.<\/p>\n

What Makes Flossing So Important?<\/h2>\n

The flexible nature of floss allows it to maneuver into the tight spaces between teeth. As it\u2019s gently moved back-and-forth, it frees bacteria and debris that could otherwise contribute to advanced tooth and gum decay.<\/p>\n

The thorough cleaning that flossing provides also helps to prevent the development of periodontal disease, which is the inflammation and eventual deterioration of the gums.<\/p>\n

Untreated, the condition can cause the following symptoms:<\/p>\n