I just had a crazy cavity filled and when I asked what caused it the dentist said I wasn’t flossing enough. I know it’s important to floss, but I don’t get how just not flossing every night could’ve caused so much breakdown inside my tooth.
In: Biology
Bacteria in your mouth feast on the food stuck on your teeth and create acid which breaks down your teeth’s enamel. Flossing removes the food stuck between your teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach as well as some bacteria.
Flossing removes small particles of food stuck between your teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach. Those particles of food are also food for the bacteria that live in your mouth. Your mouth bacteria will eat those particles and secrete acids as a byproduct. Those acids eat away at your tooth enamel and that’s how cavities form. The bacteria can also cause gum inflammation and infection, which can lead to permanent destruction of gum tissue and permanent bone loss, ultimately leading to tooth loss.
Removes food that is stuck between teeth that would otherwise cause cavities (like potato chips)
flossing gets rid of food stuck in your teeth that bacteria feed on, and removes buildups of bacteria that your toothbrush or mouthwash can’t get too. The crevices in between your teeth without flossing become a protected haven for these bacteria to cause enamel erosion or periodontal disease.
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