Here’s what I know: I have many patients who floss daily and still have gum disease and cavities between their teeth. I also have many patients who only floss a day or two before their dental visit, and get no cavities between their teeth and haven’t lost a whisper of bone. No fair, huh?
I guess the answer to the question “how often do I need to floss to stay healthy?” is “it depends”. If you happen to be “gifted genetically” when it comes to your mouth (no tooth decay or periodontal bacteria and a super immune system), then you probably don’t need to floss much. One to two min/day with a toothbrush might get you by. Just be careful that you don’t contract the bad oral bacteria from someone more average, like the rest of the 70-80% of us. Visit your dentist yearly, just to be safe—because things can change.
If you are one of the “unlucky” ones at the other end of the bell curve, flossing daily will not be enough to keep your teeth, mouth (and body) healthy. You will need to fight an all-out war against your oral bacteria, which will include daily mechanical removal of all biofilm (plaque) off your teeth (toothbrush, floss, picks, irrigator, etc.), as well as chemically controlling the bacteria with rinses, gels or pills. You may also need dental treatment to eradicate infected tissue from around your teeth. You will probably do better if you get enough sleep, keep your stress managed and eat a diet high in antioxidants and low in simple and processed carbohydrates. Plan on spending 10-20 min/day on your teeth. See us every 2-4 months for evaluation and maintenance.
What if you are somewhere in the middle like most American adults? Then you don’t have to work quite as hard as the “unlucky” group, but certainly more that the “gifted genetically” one. You can pick and choose what works best for you to remove your biofilm daily, possibly with the help of an anti-microbial. You should plan on spending 4-6 min/day on oral care. Check in with your dentist and hygienist every 4-6 months, and make adjustments in your homecare or recall schedule as needed.
Not sure what group you fit into or what combination of homecare tasks will keep you healthy? Just ask. And in case you were wondering, even though I don’t floss regularly, I clean between my teeth daily with a Philips Airfloss™ and wear PerioProtect™ trays with 1.7% hydrogen peroxide gel for 10-15 min., and my gums have never been healthier. Keep smiling!
