The floss seen in the image above is vintage. A patient brought it into our office this morning, and said it was over 60 years old! This little bottle of vintage waxed floss made me think, and I want to share my thoughts with you! Flossing has been around a long time, and dentists and hygienists always remind their patients to floss. Yet, still my patients admit that they aren’t flossing twice a day. But why? Well, why floss?
- Flossing is an essential part of your home hygiene routine because it removes plaque (bacteria) from between the teeth and at the gumline where periodontal disease often begins, or cavities can form.
- Flossing twice a day is a proven way of decreasing the likelihood of gingivitis, periodontitis and cavities.
- Flossing can remove old food debris from between the teeth and thus improve your breath!
There are now a variety of flossers that you can use if you find the floss string awkward. Bottom line: flossing improves oral health, and also your overall health. The bacteria that cause gum disease is now linked to heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s Disease, just to name a few. So, flossing is a cheap, easy and quick way to do something good for your body ( and teeth) everyday. Make it a part of your daily routine so that your next dental visit is excellent!
Keep flossing,
Dr. Frankel
