Brush Or Floss - What Is More Important?

You must have heard dentists repeating it countless time that brushing and flossing are key steps for maintaining an optimal oral care. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends everyone to brush teeth twice a day and floss your teeth at least once a day. However, the question remains there: is flossing more important than brushing? Surprisingly, the answer is “yes”.

All the dentist in Pakistan agree that flossing plays a more important role in removing plaque and food particles because it reached the spots between your teeth and beneath the gums unlike a brush that cleans the front and back of the teeth. And these hard to reach parts are the ones that promote growth of dangerous bacteria, and failure to remove which can lead to serious issues such as gingivitis. However, for several lazy people, flossing can be too much of a process. Brushing seems to be an easier option.

What are The Facts?

All the dentists in Pakistan agree that when you do not floss, you are at risk for two major dental issues in your mouth i.e. gingivitis and cavities between your teeth. And without flossing, you will not be able to remove plaque buildup. There are more than 1,000 bacteria in dental plaque that are harmful for your oral health. These bacteria can irritate gum tissues making them inflamed, red and bleed easily that breed more bacteria and cause gingivitis.

Another risk of not flossing is that cavities are more likely to form between your teeth. And the same dental plaque that causes gingivitis can lead to growth of harmful bacteria that will destroy the enamel between your teeth – consequently forming a cavity.

Complete Oral Care

This is not all because all the dentists in Pakistan agree that gingivitis if left untreated can progress to periodontal disease. And the bacteria from periodontal disease can enter the bloodstream and travel to other parts of the body like heart and respiratory tract.

Periodontal disease also has direct link with diabetes and can contribute to the risk of low birth weight in newborns. And an easy way to reduce the risk of these serious side effects of periodontal disease is by striving to achieve optimal oral care at home that includes both brushing and flossing.