Back Teeth: The Hardest Workers, The Least Respect
The grooves and ridges in your back teeth make them perfect for chewing food. Unfortunately, these grooves and ridges also make your back teeth perfect for collecting tiny food particles, which increase the risk of plaque and gum disease.
Although they do the most work, the back teeth are often given the least attention during brushing and flossing. You don’t see them as much, so they might not seem as important to you. Additionally, they’re often closer together, so flossing can be difficult.
If plaque builds up after several years of not flossing properly, the tooth enamel will begin to break down. Plaque that continues to go unremoved may cause tooth decay to progress inward and affect the nerves inside the tooth. Such decay may cause pain, swelling, or even tooth loss.
It’s important to brush and floss around your back teeth every day. If you have trouble brushing or flossing your back teeth, ask one of the dentists at Vacendak Dentistry for some helpful tips during your next visit. We’d be happy to show you easy ways to take care of your beautiful teeth and keep them around for a long time.
