Can a Dentist Tell If You Don’t Floss?

You probably know you should have your teeth cleaned and checked twice a year — these routine biannual dental visits go a long way toward protecting your lifelong oral health. Teeth cleanings allow your dental hygienist the opportunity to remove tartar, hardened plaque that you can’t get rid of on your own at home.

But professional cleanings aren’t just about your teeth. They’re also about your gums. With your twice-yearly visit, you give your dental care team the chance to assess your gum health. And since nearly half of adults in the United States have some degree of gum disease — and gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss — this matters. 

Why is gum disease so common? Partially because a lot of people don’t floss. 

If you’re gearing up for a teeth cleaning visit here at Family Dental Care in West Palm Beach, Florida, you might be wondering if Dr. Sujay Trivedi and Dr. Michael C. Westcott can tell whether or not you’ve been flossing. 

Yes, we can tell if you don’t floss

We’re sorry to break it to you, but yes — your dentist can always tell if regular flossing isn’t part of your usual oral hygiene routine. This actually isn’t that difficult. You could learn to spot the signs of incomplete oral hygiene habits yourself. 

Your gums give you away. Someone who brushes and flosses regularly has healthy, pink gums. But when you skip the flossing, your gums show it. They get red, swollen, and sensitive. If you’ve flossed for the first time in a while and found blood on the floss, you’ve seen the evidence yourself. 

At our office, Dr. Westcott and Dr. Trivedi have specialized dental tools they can use to evaluate how inflamed your gums are, and determine if you have gingivitis (early-stage gum disease) or periodontitis (more advanced gum disease). 

But you don’t need a dental education or specific tools to see if someone has been flossing. If a person’s gums appear red, puffy, or irritated, they’ve probably been skipping this important oral care step. 

Flossing before your teeth cleaning

Now, here’s the good news. When you address gingivitis in its early stages, you can reverse it at home. In other words, if you have a few weeks to go before your next dental cleaning, start flossing now. By the time you come to our office, you might have given your gums the care they need to get healthy.

Find what works for you. That could mean leaving traditional string floss in the shower for easy access during your morning routine, or it might mean trying one of the alternative tools recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA), such as:

• A water flosser
• Dental picks
• Tiny brushes that can get between your teeth

We can help you find the right option. If you hate flossing, talk with us so our team can help you pinpoint a different tool that might work better for you. We can also teach you proper flossing techniques so you’re sure to get the job done right every time. 

For helping in building a healthy flossing habit, addressing gum disease, or protecting your overall oral health, call 561-556-1698 during normal business hours, or book your visit online any time.