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Floss Every Day the Milford Dentists Way

Monday 20 April 2015, 4:46PM

By Beckie Wright

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AUCKLAND

If we really want to keep our hygienist happy we should do exactly what she says and make sure we floss on a daily basis and Karen Hobbs, Dental Hygienist/Therapist at Milford Dentists is someone who is always very happy when she sees her patients adhering to her simple rule of flossing every day. As she explains, our tooth brush cleans the outer and top surfaces of our teeth but does not clean in between the teeth. Dental Floss reaches the areas a tooth brush can't reach so if we don’t floss we’re not cleaning food debris and bacterial dental plaque off all the surfaces of our teeth - It’s as simple as that.

If we brush our teeth but do not floss our teeth we are leaving bacteria in the gaps in between our teeth to multiply and cause gum infection gingivitis which can then lead to periodontal disease and eventually premature tooth loss. The places where the gums and teeth meet are where flossing plays its major role. Tiny particles of food can get lodged here and bacteria that live in the mouth eat this food, establishing a complex gloopy colony called Dental Plaque. Dental Plaque, which is a bit like cottage cheese in consistency, gets so stuck onto teeth after 24 hours that it cannot be removed with a tooth brush or floss.

Dental Plaque then hardens and fuses to the tooth over time to form tartar/calculus, a thick deposit that only the hygienist or dentist can remove with a scraper. Tartar build-up can lead to gingivitis: red, swollen gums that are the first stage of gum disease. It is also a cause of bad breath. If left unchecked, the bacteria-laden tartar and plaque can spread even deeper below the gum line, causing periodontitis:  gum disease characterized by severe inflammation. The bone and gum that supports a tooth is eventually destroyed leading to the tooth becoming wobbly and falling out. There is also a direct link between gum infection and cardiovascular disease so, to summarise, it is really important to keep our teeth and gums healthy and it is all about mechanically removing bacteria and food from them. If we do this perfectly every day we will have healthy gums for life.

For further information please visit the Milford Dentists website at www.milforddentists.co.nz