Two Reasons Flossing Is Not A Waste Of Time
Every once in a while, an article or news flash will come along saying that flossing isn't all it's cracked up to be. The source will say that research is sparse, studies are too small, and they simply don't prove a correlation between flossing and oral health. However, most dentists do not believe that flossing is a waste of time and still recommend flossing daily for the following reasons:
Why You Should Floss
No matter what type of toothbrush you use (electric, traditional), what type of bristles it has (hard, medium, soft), or how long or special those bristles are, your toothbrush cannot reach tight spaces or clean between your teeth. When you floss, you can see what the floss dredges out from between your teeth. That sticky white stuff is plaque. No doubt you've used floss to remove food debris. Why? Because your toothbrush can't. Food debris and bacterial plaque can build up between your teeth and cause tooth decay. If it remains unremoved for more than 22 hours it begins to calcify into tartar which can only be removed via a professional dental cleaning. If the bacterial plaque forms near your gums it can lead to gum disease, the major cause of tooth loss.
Why Not?
Considering the above information, and considering that flossing does no harm, why not do it? It only takes a minute or two out of your day, and the consequences of choosing not to floss can be far more detrimental to your dental health than spending the few minutes each day to floss.
Additionally
If using string floss is too difficult, tricky, or cumbersome, experiment with other flossing techniques such as mini brushes, wooden picks, plastic flossing picks, or water flossers.