3 Reasons to Celebrate National Flossing Day

Did you know the day after Thanksgiving is always National Flossing Day? Perfect timing for getting stuffing or pumpkin pie unstuck from between your teeth!

Daily flossing, along with brushing, is the best preventative measure against gum disease and tooth decay. Unfortunately, flossing is not very popular. According to a recent study, about 27% of American adults lie to their dentist about how frequently they floss. And 36% would prefer to wash dirty dishes or clean the toilet instead!

But with all the benefits of flossing, it doesn’t deserve the bad rap it gets. Here are the top three reasons why:

1. Fighting bad breath: Often, bad breath is caused by decaying food particles stuck between teeth. These eventually release foul-smelling sulfurous compounds. By simply flossing once a day, you can remove trapped food and bacteria, and significantly decrease your chances of having bad breath.
2. Fighting cavities: Food trapped between your teeth can mix with bacteria and acids to form plaque. The plaque then starts to eat away at your tooth enamel, creating cavities.
3. Fighting gum disease: Not flossing can lead to plaque building up along the gum line, which causes inflammation (known as gingivitis). If not treated, gingivitis can progress into gum disease, which can lead to other health problems and tooth loss.

Sources:

• https://www.perio.org/consumer/quarter-of-adults-dishonest-with-dentists
• http://www.livestrong.com/article/190164-what-are-the-benefits-of-flossing-teeth-gums/