You know that old, silly question that you were asked a thousand times while you were growing up: “If you were going to be stranded on a deserted island and could only take one thing with you, what would you take?” Do you know what your dentist would say? The answer may surprise you. Your dentist would tell you to take your dental floss. Wait? Not your toothbrush? That’s right.

Your toothbrush is a tool designed to clean the surfaces of your teeth to prevent bacteria from growing and damaging your tooth enamel. However, many objects can be used as a substitute toothbrush: your fingers, a wash cloth, leaves, seaweed, etc. But there is nothing that can replace dental floss.

Dental floss is designed to clean the areas in between the teeth where a toothbrush (or substitute toothbrush) cannot reach. It is the areas between the teeth that are the most vulnerable to decay and gum disease because this is where food particles remained trapped and are broken down by bacteria. If bacteria area allowed to linger on the teeth, they will eventually begin to eat away at the enamel of the teeth and infect the gums.

Floss specifically reaches the tight spots between the teeth in order to get the gunk out from between them. The American Dental Association reports that up to 80% of plaque can be eliminated through flossing. ask me That is an incredibly high percentage, especially when flossing is the most neglected form of at home dental care.

Yes, flossing takes a little effort and will add an addition 60-90 seconds to your nightly dental routine. However, this extra minute of your time can prevent serious oral health concerns, including the loss of your teeth.

At Gold Hill Dentistry, we want to partner with you in order to achieve a healthy mouth. We are here to guide you through preventive dental care in order to promote optimal oral health. Call us today to schedule your appointment, and we will help you learn to floss properly and make it an easy habit to get into doing on a daily basis.