Most Canadians can’t imagine starting a new day without brushing their teeth. In fact, 73% brush their teeth twice or more per day. But according to the Canadian Dental Association, only one in four Canadians floss regularly. That means the majority are exposed to the risks of accumulating plaque — the same kind that builds up in our arteries — between their teeth and at the gum line.
Your gums need loving care too!
The bacterial plaque that accumulates everyday on our teeth hardens into tartar, irritating gums and making it impossible to remove by brushing alone.
This means that the 72% of Canadians who don’t floss regularly are missing an important component of a preventative health routine. Healthy gums are firm and pink; if your gums are red and swollen it may be an early indication of gingivitis.
A number of studies in recent years have shown that people with poor oral health — including gum disease and tooth loss — are more likely to experience poor health in other areas of their body. Periodontal disease, which starts with untreated gingivitis, is associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, and pregnancy complications. So, what can be done? Following a healthy diet, quitting or avoiding smoking, having regular check-ups, and yes, cleaning between teeth are some of the most common methods recommended by health care teams to help prevent periodontal disease and improve overall health.
Bacterial plaque that accumulates everyday on our teeth hardens into tartar, irritating gums and making it impossible to remove by brushing alone.
Prevent the preventable
It is of most importance to remove dental plaque from all surfaces of our teeth, including between teeth and under gums, every 24 hours as this is when the cavities and gingivitis process starts happening quickly.
Not everyone approaches oral health the same way. Purists might prefer using traditional string floss in front of a mirror, while jetsetters might choose the quick one-handed flosser from the privacy of an airplane bathroom or in between meetings. Interdental picks and brushes are soft on the gums, and allow the perfectionist to reach even the smallest spaces. They come in various sizes that will fit both those with tight contacts and those with wider spaces between teeth. Include your child in the between-teeth-cleaning routine with kids’ flossers that make cleaning between the teeth easy, fun, and motivating for both children and caregivers.
