What Happens When I Forget to Floss?

Our team strongly encourages everyone to floss daily — but do you ever wonder why? Flossing is vital for maintaining top-notch oral health and a beautiful smile. It benefits your oral health in more ways than you might realize. When you skip flossing, your smile can suffer. Here’s how:

Leave your smile vulnerable to cavities: If you don't remove food particles, plaque, bacteria, and other harmful substances from between your teeth, they can attack the enamel and create holes in the tooth surface — known as cavities. These can affect one or more teeth and may spread, infecting deeper layers of the teeth including the tooth nerve, pulp, and even the root canal.

Increase your risk of gum disease: Plaque that isn’t removed from between your teeth and along the gumline can irritate and infect the gums, causing swelling and bleeding. It can harden into tartar, causing the gums to recede and exposing the tooth roots. Over time, tartar can spread to the jawbone and cause bone loss, leading to loose or lost teeth. Daily flossing helps remove plaque before it causes serious problems.

Harm your overall health: Untreated gum disease has been linked to serious health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, respiratory disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. Taking care of your gums can benefit your whole body.

Tips for Proper Flossing

• Use about 16–18 inches of floss, winding most of it around your middle fingers.
• Use your thumbs and index fingers to gently guide the floss between your teeth with a back-and-forth motion (avoid snapping it onto the gums).
• Follow the curves of your teeth and gently floss below the gumline.
• Use a clean section of floss for each tooth.
• Keep floss or travel-sized floss picks with you for removing food particles during the day.

Proper flossing not only helps improve your oral and overall health but also helps you avoid costly treatments. And if a specific dental treatment is needed, our team is here to help you find the most cost-effective solution.

Be sure to floss at least once a day to maintain the healthy, beautiful smile you deserve! If you have any questions about flossing or oral hygiene, reach out to a member of our team — we’re happy to help you and your family keep smiling with confidence!