Top Five Reasons to Stay Calm and Carry On… Keep Flossing

 You probably saw the headlines from a recent news story that made it seem like flossing wasn’t beneficial.  It resonated with a lot of people who liked hearing they didn’t really have to floss and the story went viral.  More studies and better data would help clarify the exact benefit of flossing.  But consider, common-sense factors:
Flossing removes the layer of biofilm (or “junk”) on your teeth that builds up from eating, which can compound stains on your teeth.  So the practice of flossing keeps your teeth whiter.
Flossing removes the bacteria in that sticky plaque layer that produces sulfur (odor) so that your breath will smell better!  Related to that, is why you may have heard the recommendation to brush your tongue as well as your teeth.
Flossing cleans two out of the five sides of teeth, which can otherwise be neglected.   Would you consider bathing one part of your body, but not your face or torso…even if there was an absence of statistically significant scientific evidence for it?   If you floss and then smell the floss/look at what has accumulated, would you want to eat it?
Flossing improves your “luck”.  I treat and evaluate dental disease every day.  There are certain patterns that emerge… yes, some people are “lucky” and get away without flossing for awhile.  However, many others improve their “luck” by flossing regularly to decrease the number of cavities between teeth and maintain the health of their gums and bones so the teeth stay sturdy and strong.  To paraphrase rocker, Gene Simmons, “the harder I work, the luckier I seem to get.”
It doesn’t take that long and even football player, Cam Newton does it, on the sidelines of a football game, according to an MSN sports report.  Ok, just checking to be sure you are still reading thus far.
Tip: If you really hate flossing, or suffer from arthritis/have physical limitations, flossing aids can help. Soft-Picks are gentle and get in between teeth and under the gum to remove plaque.  The J&J Reach flosser has a toothbrush handle and pre-threaded, disposable floss piece that makes it easier to get to hard-to-reach areas.
Let’s have some fun, join our flossing campaign: #flosslikeaboss – if you post a photo of yourself flossing your teeth on our Facebook page, Sweet Tooth Dentistry Valencia, you will be entered to win a raffle for a $250 apple store gift card.
Sweet Tooth Dentistry Valencia: modern dentistry, comfortable care for general, family and cosmetic dentistry.  The office is located at 24510 Town Center Drive, Suite 210 in Valencia.  For more information, please call 661-505-6000 and visit www.sweettoothvalencia.com.