One of the most common questions that surrounds dental health is whether flossing is necessary.
FEMAIL spoke to one dentist from Sydney, Dr Luke Cronin, who has helped settle the age-old debate once and for all.
‘So, do we really need to be flossing? The answer is yes, we absolutely do,’ he said.
Dr Luke Cronin explained that flossing is a key step in your oral health routine
Dr Cronin explained that flossing is a key step in your oral health routine.
‘It not only keeps your smile looking its best, but it is central to maintaining your overall oral health and preventing decay,’ he said.
‘Daily flossing is highly effective in removing the build-up of plaque in hard-to-reach areas that can cause decay.
‘Flossing also removes the excess food particles your toothbrush can miss.’
‘So, do we really need to be flossing? The answer is yes, we absolutely do,’ Dr Cronin said
Dr Cronin also shared that flossing is an important way to decrease the risk of getting gum disease.
The first stage of gum disease is Gingivitis, which is a common source of bad breath.
FEMAIL spoke to expert Dr Luke Cronin on the matter (pictured)
‘While it sounds scary to some people, it’s treatable and preventable with a good oral health routine that features flossing,’ Dr Cronin told FEMAIL.
‘Many people who suffer from sensitive or bleeding gums often avoid flossing as they believe it will make their bleeding gums worse.
‘The reality is that flossing your teeth will improve the health of your gums and prevent bleeding.’
With all of this information it begs us to ask the question of why we are still debating the importance of flossing.
‘Whenever people consider introducing flossing into their oral health routine, they think of it as inconvenient, messy and a bit unpleasant,’ he added.
‘Really it comes down to good technique when using traditional floss. It’s a good idea to ask your dentist to give you a quick refresher at your next check-up to ensure you’ve got it right.’
‘The reality is that flossing your teeth will improve the health of your gums and prevent bleeding,’ Dr Cronin explained
There’s also the fact that the US health department last year removed flossing as a recommended practice on its website.
According to Dr Cronin, flossing is now easier to do than ever before as evolving technologies has allowed manufacturers to create devices to help you get the job done.
‘A good example that I recommend to my patients is Philips Sonicare AirFloss Ultra, which uses air or liquid (water or mouthwash) to remove plaque for a super quick clean removing the plaque that your brushing has missed.’
Of course this isn’t the only flossing product on the market, with just some of the multitude of products being the Kogan Cordless Water Flosser and Piksters Interdental Brushes.
With flossing often considered a mundane step in oral health, using different products may encourage some to do it more regularly.