How Important Is Flossing
Is It Really Important That I Floss?
Believe it or not, flossing is more than just one more thing to add to your daily ritual. The American Academy of Periodontology (the main organization for gum tissue specialists) reports that up to 75% of all Americans over the age of 35 are believed to have some form of gum disease (also known as “periodontal disease” or “periodontitis.”) Gum disease is an inflammatory response by the body to bacteria in your mouth. Not only does this affect your teeth and supporting structures, but it can affect your overall health as well.
Diabetic complications, cardiovascular disease, and preterm and low birth weight babies are all the result of inflammatory mechanisms in your body. It is thought that if you have severe enough periodontal disease for long enough, it can trigger these other inflammations. Bottom line, gum disease can affect your overall health. It has been shown that expectant mothers who experience significant gum disease are at a much greater risk of having a premature baby. Diabetics who have chronic periodontitis have far more difficulty controlling their diabetes than those who do not have gum tissue problems. There has been a strong association between having periodontal disease and a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease in the form of a stroke or heart attack.
So, why am I sharing this with you? Most of you know that at the Lawrence Dental Studio we are into much more than just saving teeth. We enjoy enhancing our client’s smiles and preserving personal integrity. The older I get, the more I am concerned about my health and the overall health of those that I serve. This is why we have added the treatment of sleep disordered breathing to our services. However, one of the most important services we provide is to help you prevent periodontal disease. I know it is hard to believe that
we really don’t enjoy nagging about flossing – it is truly a life and health issue.
A bit of humor :
Client: should I floss all my teeth
Dentist: No, only the ones you want to keep
How to floss tutorial
Tags: dental care, Dentistry, Flossing, protection of teeth, Smiles
June 24th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
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