The Importance of Brushing and Flossing - Community Health of Central Washington (2024)

FAQs

Why is brushing and flossing important? ›

Taking care of your teeth helps prevent cavities and gum disease. Brushing and flossing properly can prevent plaque (pronounced: plak), a clear film of bacteria that sticks to your teeth. After you eat, the bacteria break down sugar on your teeth into acids that eat away tooth enamel, causing holes called cavities.

Most often the body's defenses and good oral care keep germs under control. Good oral care includes daily brushing and flossing. Without good oral hygiene, germs can reach levels that might lead to infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease. Also, certain medicines can lower the flow of spit, called saliva.

The ADA recommends brushing twice a day and cleaning between teeth with floss (or another interdental cleaner) once a day. Some people prefer to floss in the evening before bedtime so that the mouth is clean while sleeping. Others prefer to floss after their midday meal.

When you brush, you help take food and plaque off your teeth. Plaque is a sticky white film that forms on teeth. Plaque has bacteria in it. After you eat a meal or snack that has sugar, the bacteria in plaque make acids that attack tooth enamel.

When we don't brush our teeth, bacteria and plaque can build up in our mouths, which can cause tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. If these issues are left untreated, they can lead to more severe health problems like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

By removing food particles and preventing plaque from building up, flossing each day may reduce your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Flossing can also prevent food from decaying between your teeth which, in turn, may help prevent bad breath.

The first and most obvious consequence of not flossing your teeth is an increased risk of developing cavities, plaque buildup, and gingivitis. Plaque, in particular, is a sticky film composed of bacteria that form on the surface of the teeth if they aren't regularly cleaned.

The American Dental Association suggests that you brush your teeth twice a day — about 2 minutes with a fluoride toothpaste — and use an interdental cleaner, such as floss, once a day. You can floss before or after you brush.

Yes, we can tell if you don't floss

Your gums give you away. Someone who brushes and flosses regularly has healthy, pink gums. But when you skip the flossing, your gums show it. They get red, swollen, and sensitive.

The best time to floss is when you have time to floss properly. For many people, this means flossing at night before bed. This may also prevent food particles from remaining in your teeth overnight, which will reduce possible damage from bacteria. Flossing regularly is vital to maintain proper oral health.

When is toothbrush damage most likely to occur? ›

Damage is unlikely to develop over night, but when excess force is repeatedly used, tooth enamel will become worn down more quickly and small holes or openings are likely to form. Improper brushing tools, such as a tooth brush with hard or firm bristles, also increases the likelihood of dental damage.

While it may be surprising, a study has found that flossing first followed by brushing with a fluoride toothpaste is more effective in removing interdental plaque than brushing first, flossing second. In addition, flossing before brushing results in greater fluoride retention between teeth.

Though good oral hygiene that includes brushing and flossing helps in preventing cavities, you may still get cavities. The reasons can be many, like the spaces between teeth that easily trap food, consuming too much cavity-causing foods and beverages, avoiding regular professional-level cleanings and checkups, etc.

The short answer is no. Cleaning all sides of your teeth, including between your teeth where the toothbrush can't reach, is a good thing. Although long-term, large-scale studies of flossing are somewhat limited, researchers have found modest benefits from flossing in small, short-term studies.