When was the last time that you flossed your teeth, honestly? Yeah, you probably have heard it from your dentist just about every time you have gone to have your teeth cleaned (or cavities filled, or teeth pulled. . .), but have you actually listened to the advice? No more excuses – yes, there’s actually a day to remind you to floss your teeth.
Well, it’s not just that – Flossing Day exists to remind you of your oral health in general, but flossing in particular because that’s the thing that you’re most likely to overlook. Admit it, we all forget to do it.
History of Flossing Day
Flossing Day has been celebrated since the year 2000, to remind people of the importance of looking after their teeth. Flossing is an important component of this, and dental floss has been available since the late 1890s. Ironically enough, when Johnson and Johnson developed the first patented dental floss in 1898, toothbrushes were still quite expensive.
Originally, floss was made from thin silk threads, but by the end of WWII nylon had become prevalent. While it did take 102 years to come up with such a day as Flossing Day, you shouldn’t really overlook your oral hygiene for that long. If you did, you’d lose all of your teeth long before that.
Why is flossing so important?
We understand that brushing your teeth after each meal may not be convenient, but flossing after a meal is easy and can be done anywhere. Not only does regular flossing help you practice good oral hygiene, but it can also help you maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle, as flossing after eating will make you less tempted to snack.
Dentists recommend that you should floss once a day, the best time being in the evenings after you brush to remove any food and plaque at the end of the day. If you are concerned about dental diseases or have noticed any sensitivity or changes to your teeth.
The goal of flossing and brushing is to remove plaque buildup. Plaque consists of active colonies of destructive bacteria, which basically eat and then excrete on our teeth. Brushing only removes plaque from the front and back surfaces of your teeth.
Flossing, on the other hand, allows you to remove plaque from between your teeth and underneath the gums. These hard-to-reach spots are where the most destructive microbes live
