The Flossing Difference

Many Canadians do not floss their teeth twice daily. Unfortunately, some people only floss right before their dental checkup. The truth is – your dentist can tell the difference.

How can your dentist tell? The first sign is if your gums are bleeding. Although there can be other reasons, the main cause tends to be due to gingivitis. This is when the gums become inflamed because of the bacteria in your mouth that collects between your gums and teeth.

The problem is that it takes at least a week of flossing to make a difference with gingivitis. If plaque is present on your teeth for just two days, it can initiate gingival bleeding.

If your gums show signs of inflammation or bleeding during your cleaning, this will tell your dentist about your flossing habits. Since it takes a week of diligent cleaning, at least twice a day to make a difference, you should commit to good flossing habits all year round.

Keep Flossing!

– Dr. Azim Parekh