You Don't Floss?!

No excuses about flossing from this darling little boy (who happens to be my son)! Dentists hear all sorts of excuses for why their patients don't floss. The number one excuse? Food doesn’t get caught between my teeth, so I don’t need to floss. Flossing isn’t so much about removing food debris as it is about removing plaque, which contains bacteria causing tooth decay, inflamed gums (gingivitis), periodontal disease -- and, eventually, tooth loss. Daily flossing is essential to remove plaque between teeth.

Another thing to keep in mind: Bacteria between your teeth can infect your gums, allowing more bacteria to enter your bloodstream where they can cause inflammation of the arteries. This is why severe gum disease can nearly double a person's risk of cardiovascular disease. We want you to be informed and remember this the next time you put that brush away without flossing. Remember - only floss the ones you want to keep!

Want some extra tips on flossing? Check out this step by step picture guide to see if you can pick up anything you didn't know! (Remember to floss the back side of your last tooth!)

Thanks to Kimberly who contributed to this post!