How Important is Flossing?

Everyone knows that it’s important to floss your teeth on a regular basis, but many patients do not have good flossing habits. In this article, we are going to discuss the importance of flossing and how often you should floss to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Teeth Surfaces

Flossing is a great way to keep your teeth and gums healthy. The act of flossing helps remove debris and plaque between the teeth, which can help prevent the formation of cavities and gum disease.

Think of it this way. Each tooth has five surfaces (or sides):

• The top
• The front
• The back
• The left side
• The right side

When you brush your teeth, your tooth brush is able to effectively scrub only three of those five sides (the top, front, and back). That leaves the sides of your teeth relatively untouched by brushing. So how do you keep those sides clean? Flossing.

Flossing Frequency

Another common question we get from a lot of our patients is – “how often should I floss?” A good baseline for flossing is once per day. Flossing twice daily, or when you get a piece of food stuck in your teeth is also a good idea. A good way of getting into a routine is to floss right after you brush your teeth.

Make a Dental Appointment in Bloomington, MN

If you are looking to make a dental appointment in Bloomington or the surrounding area, look no further than Smiles for Life! Dr. Tim Brooks has decades of experience providing oral health care to patients throughout the state of Minnesota. Whether you need to schedule a routine cleaning, or you have a tooth ache that’s bothering you, we’ve got the skills and experience to meet your needs. Contact us today to set up your appointment at our Bloomington dental clinic.