Do you really need to floss?

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14 Nov 2025 Time - 6:00 pm

One of the most common questions we get from patients is whether or not flossing is important. Do you really need to brush your teeth? Just like how you can’t have fries without ketchup, you can’t brush your teeth without flossing. Flossing is crucial for maintaining good oral hygiene. It helps remove plaque and food particles from between your teeth and along the gum line, where your toothbrush can't reach as effectively.

Why flossing matters:

1. Plaque Removal: plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth. While brushing helps remove most of it of your teeth, the surfaces between your teeth are often missed.

2. Preventing Gum Disease: When plaque and food accumulates along the gum line. Flossing helps remove this debris and in turn reduce the risk of bleeding gums, inflammation, and periodontitis (gum disease).

3. Cavity Prevention: removing the food debris via flossing prevents cavities, especially in areas where bacteria thrive.

4. Fresh Breath: Thriving bacteria can result in bad breath. Flossing helps to remove the food debris thus improving the freshness of your breath.