Flossing is Essential

By Louis DeLuke
For most of his life Chris Pecilli didn’t floss his teeth.
“I never understood the importance of flossing,” he said. "I thought that brushing my teeth was enough. Now my gums bleed and I have difficult chewing because of it.”

The American Dental Association reports that only 12 percent of people floss on a daily basis. Consequently, 80 percent of Americans live with some form of gum disease.

Why don’t people floss? For senior psychology major Katie O’Malley, time is the biggest issue.
“I usually only floss a few times a week. With rugby and all of my school work, it’s the last thing that I want to do at the end of the day,” said O’ Malley.

But according to Dr. Michael McGovern, a periodontist from Schenectady N.Y., a lack of proper education is the number one reason why people do not floss. “Dentists are not educating their patients on how to floss properly,” said McGovern. “The point needs to be made that if you don’t floss, you will lose your teeth eventually.”

Rick Pastrana, a general dentist who owns a private practice in Delmar N.Y., said that he tries to raise awareness of periodontal disease. “Patients are misinformed. They need to be told when and how to floss. And it is not just dentists: dental hygienists need to stress this as well,” Pastrana said.

Not flossing for a prolonged period of time leads to the mildest form of periodontal disease: gingivitis. In this stage, harmful bacteria invade the gums. The gums then get swollen and begin to bleed. Gingivitis is reversible as long as the individual begins to floss and visit their dentist regularly. The next stage, periodontitis, is irreversible. The gums begin to pull away from the teeth and bone loss occurs. This ultimately leads to tooth loss.

But there are rewards for those who do floss. For one, less money will be spent. A regular check-up can cost up to $200 and the cost could wind up as high as $2000 if treatment is needed.

The most important reward is a healthy lifestyle. Recent data published by Mayo Clinic shows there is a link between periodontal disease and other serious health complications, including coronary heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and stroke. Maintaining good oral hygiene can lessen the chances of acquiring any of these life-threatening conditions.

For Brian Consoles, a sophomore biology major, flossing is a priority. “I floss everyday, sometimes twice a day,” said Consoles. Consoles has never had a cavity.

John Cardillo, 45, also flosses his teeth regularly. “As a teenager, I never used to floss. Then I went to the dentist for a routine check-up and had four cavities. My parents had a fit. From that point on, I flossed everyday. It’s been 40 years and I haven’t had a cavity since.”

With the proper education and commitment, periodontal disease is preventable, experts say. “Don’t make the same mistake that I made throughout my life,” said Pecilli. “Floss. It’s that easy.”