If you want beautiful, long-lasting, and healthy teeth, it is extremely important to follow up and manage your bi-annual dental visits, as well as keep up with a strong foundation in personal hygiene habits. Our Paramus & Spring Valley team at Dental House 360 shares the key critical facts in ensuring the best care for your oral health at-home.

Should I Brush & Floss Every Day?

Daily tooth brushing and flossing can prevent and even reverse the early stages of gum disease, otherwise known as gingivitis. If your dentist says you have gingivitis, we recommend asking for a brushing and flossing demonstration to ensure both are being done correctly.

Typically, most people do not spend enough time or care when brushing (the recommended duration is two minutes). Flossing sweeps away the sticky film between teeth that leads to plaque buildup. If left untreated, gingivitis can turn into periodontal disease. This can cause your gums to become loose around the root of the tooth creating a gum pocket that gradually deepens. Eventually, the infection and inflammation cause the tooth to loosen and possibly fall out.

Risks Associated with Gum Disease

Furthermore, patients with gum disease (also known as periodontal disease) have two to three times the risk of having the following medical conditions:

• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Other serious cardiovascular events
• Alzheimer’s

Many people with heart disease have healthy gums and not everyone with gum disease develops heart problems. Shared risk factors, such as smoking, or an unhealthy diet may explain the association. Still, there is a growing suspicion that gum disease may be an independent risk factor for heart disease.

Benefits of Daily Brushing & Flossing

Flossing is not something you do every once in a while. In addition to brushing your teeth at least two times a day, flossing is important to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy. Although you can get away with not flossing regularly as a child, as you grow older, the negative effects of not flossing can be difficult to reverse.

The following are several reasons why you and your family need to floss every day:

• Help prevent tooth decay. When you do not floss regularly, your teeth and gums become a breeding ground for bacteria and plaque.
• Manage bad breath. Halitosis is caused by a build-up of bacteria and plaque. Eliminating the plaque between teeth can lead to fresher breath.
• Fight gum disease and heart disease. According to several studies, there is a causal link between periodontitis (gum disease) and build-up in the arteries. Flossing can protect your gums from receding and your heart from certain diseases.
• Maintain a whiter smile. Eliminating plaque build-up from between your teeth can make your smile whiter.

If you are interested in high-quality dental services, contact our team in Paramus, NJ and Spring Valley, NY to schedule your appointment with us today.