Pretty much everyone out there knows that flossing is a necessary step in your oral hygiene routine. However, it isn’t just about getting popcorn out of your teeth or ensuring that your gums don’t bleed when you go in for your regular checkup. In fact, flossing every day can even save your life! Refraining from flossing every single day could spell disaster for your smile and even the rest of your body. Continue reading to learn more about the impact that flossing in Edmond has on your health and what happens when you don’t do this regularly.
What Happens If You Don’t Floss?
Even if you brush your teeth twice a day, every single day, if you aren’t flossing, you could end up with some serious oral health issues. The first thing that would occur is that food particles will accumulate between your teeth. This results in a sticky buildup of bacteria, also known as plaque, to build up. If you don’t remove this with floss, you could eventually end up with halitosis (bad breath), cavities, and even periodontal disease. Even though this condition is easily preventable, approximately half of American adults over the age of 30 are suffering from it. Many don’t even know! When left untreated, periodontal disease can result in gum recession, loose teeth, and even tooth loss. However, this is just the beginning.
How Does Periodontal Disease Affect Your Overall Health?
Periodontal disease is linked to many other health conditions all throughout the body. Some of them can be life-threatening! Here are just some of the serious health problems that can occur as a result to periodontal disease:
- Diabetes: Periodontal disease and diabetes are a disastrous pairing. Having both at the same time causes each condition to worsen. Serious periodontal disease can cause blood sugar to rise which makes diabetes more difficult to control. Having high blood sugar weakens the immune system which makes it harder for your body to fight off infections in the mouth.
- Heart Disease: Gum disease increases the risk for a number of broad conditions like heart attacks and strokes.
- Respiratory Disease: If you have an abundance of bacteria in the mouth, this can move to the lungs and cause infections, like pneumonia.
- Pregnancy Complications: Any infection poses risks for pregnant women and their unborn child. If the bacteria from the infected gum tissue reaches the blood stream, preterm labor and low birthrate is a possibility.
- Cancer: Periodontal disease has been linked to cancers of the kidneys, pancreas, and blood.
As much as you just want to brush and get on with your day, flossing is necessary to prevent oral health issues. Taking the time to floss will not only keep your smile healthy, but may even save your life!
About the Author
Dr. M. Kent Smith is an experienced dentist who has been working in the field for over 30 years. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and regularly pursues continuing education opportunities to keep his knowledge and skills sharp! For more information on proper oral hygiene or to schedule an appointment, visit his website or call (405) 341-7773.