Flossing your teeth is something everyone knows they should do, but many people don't. When you're in a hurry to get out the door in the morning, or ready to go to sleep after a long day, stopping to floss is the last thing you want to do. But you'd be surprised at the benefits of regular flossing. Experts say that flossing can do more than plastic surgery to fight the effects of aging. Why do you need to floss regularly? For starters, brushing your teeth only does 60% of the job. Flossing cleans 40% of your teeth surfaces by removing the sticky plaque in stuck in between teeth. This bacteria causes staining and yellowing between and around teeth. A buildup of plaque can also cause gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease. Gum disease is more common than you might think. The American Academy of Periodontology reports that at least 23% of women between 30 and 54, and 44% of women over 55, have severe gum disease. According to a spokesman for the Academy of General Dentistry, "You register an older look because you see more spaces, less and uneven gum tissue. Hence the quaint term for aging, "long in the tooth." Gum disease can eventually dissolve the bones in the mouth. According to a recent study in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, "bone loss in the jaw, as well as the eye sockets and cheeks, aged people in ways that cosmetic procedures that tighten and plump the skin, can’t fix." So it looks like you can save time and money by skipping the Botox and flossing instead! Do you floss your teeth regularly? Why or why not? |
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