On your top five list of things you love to do every day, flossing probably isn’t there. In fact, it’s probably not even in your top twenty. But despite how easy it is to let it slide, skipping this habit not only puts your gums at risk; it could also affect your entire body in ways that are surprisingly serious. Here’s why preventive dental maintenance, like flossing, deserves more of your attention.
Flossing Fights Gum Disease
Flossing removes plaque and food particles from between your teeth that a toothbrush just can’t reach. When ignored, this buildup hardens into tartar and allows bacteria to grow along your gumline, leading to gum disease.
Left untreated, this condition can progress from mild inflammation to a more serious infection that damages the bone and tissue supporting your teeth. In its final stages, it can even lead to tooth loss.
How Gum Disease Affects Your Heart
So, gum disease affects your teeth, but what does that have to do with the rest of your body? Strangely, heart disease is one of the most well-documented links in oral-systemic health. A growing body of research suggests that chronic inflammation in your gums allows bacteria to enter your bloodstream. There, it can contribute to inflammation in blood vessels in other places in your body.
Researchers have found associations between gum disease and an increased risk of heart disease, clogged arteries, and stroke. While gum disease isn’t the only factor, protecting your gums is a small but impactful way to support your cardiovascular health.
Other Health Risks Linked to Poor Oral Hygiene
Studies have connected gum disease to respiratory infections, uncontrolled diabetes, pregnancy complications, and rheumatoid arthritis. While researchers are still working to fully understand these connections, the pattern is consistent: the health of your mouth is closely tied to the health of the rest of your body.
Making Flossing a Daily Habit
Protecting yourself against all of this takes less than two minutes a day. Just floss once daily, ideally before bed, and be sure to get between every tooth. If traditional string floss is difficult to use, floss picks or a water flosser are fantastic alternatives. No matter which method you choose, some flossing is better than none.
Using floss might seem like a trivial matter, but given everything it protects, it’s one of the simplest things you can do for your long-term health. If you ever need help finding the right strategy for you, don’t forget your dentist is just a phone call away.
About the Author
Dr. Barry Franzen earned his DDS from Marquette University School of Dentistry and completed his prosthodontic training at the University of Missouri and Truman Medical Center. A Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, he has been recognized as one of Milwaukee Magazine’s Top Dentists multiple times throughout his career. Today, he’s committed to helping patients protect their health through consistent preventive care. Call (414) 543-5432 to schedule your next visit with our talented team.