1. Promotes Healthier Teeth
Plaque is a film of bacteria that forms on your teeth naturally. If you lack good oral hygiene habits — like flossing — it can build up, leading to cavities and discolored teeth. Hardened plaque is known as tartar, and it can’t be flossed away. It must be removed by a dentist or hygienist.
“Plaque removal is undoubtedly the main benefit of flossing for maintaining overall oral and general health,” says Danesh Bagga, BDS, lead dentist at Aspire Smiles in Warwick, United Kingdom.
Plaque also encourages bacteria to feed on sugars from your diet and releases acid, which can harm your teeth, says Carly Cassleman, DDS, owner of St. Clair Tooth Co. in St. Clair Shores, Michigan.
“These acids slowly dissolve enamel, creating weak spots that can turn into cavities,” she says.
2. Leads to Healthier Gums
Toothpicks are an easy way to remove food debris between flossings, and water flossers, also known as original irrigators or a dental water jet, are another way to help keep your gums and mouth healthy.
“By targeting these hidden areas, flossing helps prevent plaque buildup, which is the main cause of gum inflammation, bleeding, and gum disease,” says Bagga.
3. Contributes to Fresher Breath
Food particles that are lodged in between your teeth encourage bacterial growth in your mouth, which can create an unpleasant and unwelcome odor.
“Certain bacteria thrive in the low-oxygen environments between teeth and beneath the gums,” Dr. Cassleman says. “These organisms break down proteins into amino acids and then release volatile sulfur compounds (like hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan), which are the primary drivers of halitosis [or bad breath].”
Regular flossing, along with brushing and routine dental cleanings, can keep your breath from announcing your arrival from afar.
“By removing plaque and food debris, flossing disrupts these bacterial colonies and reduces bad breath at its microbial source — rather than just masking it,” Cassleman says.
4. Supports Immune Health
Flossing can also reduce inflammation, which is the immune system’s response to injury or illness, in the mouth as well as the rest of the body. Bagga says that the connection between flossing and immune health is still being researched, but the plaque buildup from not flossing can lead to inflammation in the gums. That harmful oral bacteria and its toxins can also enter the bloodstream, where it can trigger inflammation in other parts of the body.
Regular flossing can help reduce this inflammation and has been associated with lower levels of inflammatory markers such as C-reactive proteins.
“You’re trying to keep the oral microbiome as healthy as possible, so it does not impact or negatively affect the rest of your body,” says Lisa Creaven, DDS, chief executive officer and cofounder of the oral care company Made By Dentists, based in Galway, Ireland.
5. May Support Heart Health
“Oral bacteria, particularly viridans group streptococci, has been found in blood clots from patients with ischemic stroke and heart attacks,” Cassleman says.
Don’t just stop at once a week: Flossing more often than once a week led to a greater risk reduction.
6. May Promote Better Blood Sugar Control
“Periodontal disease can make it more difficult to control blood sugar levels, and conversely, diabetes can exacerbate gum disease,” Cassleman says.
7. May Improve Outcomes for Alzheimer’s Patients
One study found that promoting good oral health habits, including flossing, among people with mild Alzheimer’s helped slow cognitive decline.
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