Is Flossing Still Important?

Recent news on oral hygiene practices questioned the overall oral health benefits of daily flossing, making people wonder if they should continue this often inconvenient part of their routine. Your Frisco family dentists at Millennium Smiles stands behind the American Dental Association (ADA) position that flossing between the teeth once a day is indeed an important part of good oral hygiene and the best way to remove food and bacteria from ALL surfaces of the teeth to avoid decay.

Flossing should begin as soon as possible with young children, ideally when they are babies and only have a couple of teeth that touch each other. Early preventive care habits make them seem like a routine part of daily life that is more likely to be carried out for the long term. When you visit our Frisco family dentist office your hygienist and dentist will work with you to demonstrate effective tooth flossing and can make recommendations on the most appropriate type of floss for your needs.

How To Floss Correctly

Flossing should not be painful- if it is or if flossing causes the gums to bleed, schedule a visit where we can look for the presence of gum disease. The dental floss should be gently positioned between the teeth by sliding it back and forth with minimal force until it makes its way down to the gum line. The back and forth motion will dislodge most food particles and loosen any bacteria between the teeth. Rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash after flossing is a great way to flush out remaining debris and leave the teeth and gums feeling clean and fresh. Here is a quick ADA video on tooth flossing:

For most people, once the habit is established they find their mouth does not feel completely clean until they have flossed after brushing. Healthy daily oral hygiene that includes tooth brushing AND flossing is the foundation of a lifelong smile. For routine dental care, visit Millennium Smiles in Frisco, TX. We serve Frisco, Little Elm, and many local communities with comprehensive family and cosmetic dental care.

Call us at 972-987-4899 to schedule an appointment.

The Benefits of A Healthy Smile

Good oral hygiene is about much more than enjoying a bright, white smile. Maintaining your oral health will also prevent major dental concerns and helps to avoid other overall health issues.

Promoting great oral hygiene begins with proper tooth brushing and flossing. These are two important daily steps to keep your mouth clean and reduce the chances of tooth decay. Brushing your teeth at least twice and flossing at least once a day, you will remove bacteria that may cause larger dental concerns. Gingivitis, or gum disease, may result without daily cleaning. Your Frisco family dentist at Millennium Smiles will be able to assist you in learning how to effectively brush and floss at home.

Visiting Millennium Smiles at least twice a year for routine preventive dental care is also important for maintaining good oral health. When you visit regularly, we can monitor your dental health and treat developing problems early- before permanent damage occurs!

Preventing cavities, gum disease and even tooth loss are widely known benefits of visiting the dentist regularly. Additionally, routine dentist visits will boost your overall health. Taking care of your teeth is about more than just a healthy smile- scientific research has found many links between oral health and overall health.

There is a connection between your oral health and cardiovascular conditions. Poor oral health will increase your likelihood of developing gum disease, which can be linked to developing heart disease due to higher levels of bacteria in the mouth and body. Poor oral hygiene is also connected increased risk of heart conditions that include strokes and heart attacks. Advanced gum disease can also increase the severity of systemic disease such as diabetes, making it more difficult to manage.

At Millennium Smiles, we are dedicated to helping you enjoy a healthy smile- and your best quality of life! If you have been away from the dentist or are looking for a new Frisco or Little Elm area family dentist, we are accepting new patients.

The Benefits of A Family Dentist

Serving Frisco, Little Elm, and surrounding communities, Millennium Smiles is a family dental practice offering “one-stop shopping” for your family’s dental health needs. Our staff has extensive post-graduate training and experience in diagnosing and treating a wide range of oral health concerns, including bite disorders, periodontal disease, and missing teeth.

We are dedicated to providing personalized, patient-focused care and a warm relaxing environment to treat all of your family’s oral health needs. We take time during your visit to understand not only your oral health but your personal concerns and goals when it comes to your smile. Helping patients achieve the smile they desire with conservative, comprehensive dentistry is our goal.

As family dentists, we see children in their office beginning around the age of 3- when all primary teeth have erupted. These early visits can be extremely important for laying the foundation of lifelong dental health. Enabling pediatric patients to receive dental care alongside Mom, Dad or their caregiver can help to reduce the anxiety they may be feeling.

For today’s busy families, family dentistry can eliminate trips around town to different dentists- everyone can be seen under the same roof!

Looking for a dentist in Little Elm or Frisco? Millennium Smiles accepts a range of payment options and accepts most dental insurance, filing your claim at the time of your visit.

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