Brushing and Flossing Do More Than Just Clean Teeth

Brushing and Flossing Do More Than Just Clean Teeth

Charlottesville dentistsPracticing proper daily oral hygiene is paramount to establishing a foundation of good oral health. In fact, brushing and flossing do more than just clean your teeth. Flossing and brushing help prevent disease, reduce the amount of harmful oral bacteria in the mouth, and keep the gums and other soft oral tissue healthy. Since oral hygiene is so important to one’s oral health, dentists frequently devote time to providing patient education and oral hygiene instruction. Following are three reasons why you should take a thorough approach in your oral hygiene routine.

Controlling Oral Bacteria with Oral Hygiene

Your mouth is the ideal environment for bacteria to flourish. This is because the mouth is moist and warm. At any moment, a person’s mouth is full of thousands of bacteria – some are good and some are harmful. Brushing and flossing are essential to controlling bacterial growth and colonization. Flossing removes debris between teeth while also disrupting the formation of bacterial colonies along the gum line. Brushing helps remove leftover food that bacteria feed on along with removing plaque that coats the tongue, teeth, inside of cheeks, and the gums. Proper flossing and brushing greatly helps control the growth of bacteria—especially the harmful, cavity-causing kind.

Preventing Disease with Brushing and Flossing

Home care is essential for preventing common oral health problems. Brushing and flossing, when done frequently and properly, can greatly reduce a patient’s risk for dental caries (tooth decay) and the development of gum disease. Both tooth decay and gum disease can be destructive to oral health, as well as invasive and costly to treat by a dentist in their advanced stages.

Brushing and Flossing Stimulates Soft Tissue

The soft tissue in your mouth – especially the gums – is an integral but often overlooked component of the oral health system. For instance, the gums support the teeth and protect their roots from harmful bacteria and debris. Brushing and flossing not only cleanses soft tissue, it stimulates it.

Our oral surgeons are dentists with advanced education and training to treat conditions and diseases that affect the entire oral health system. Call us today to reserve an appointment at our practice.