Lesson 4: Practice Good Oral Self-Care

4.10 Floss every day

If you have diabetes, it is very important to floss every day. Flossing daily can:

• Keep your gums healthy. Flossing cleans between your teeth so that your gums stay pink and healthy. If food stays between your teeth, your gums can become red, swollen, and might bleed.

• Remove plaque. Flossing removes food and plaque from between your teeth. This is important so that you do not get cavities or tooth decay.

• Improve bad breath. By removing the trapped food and plaque between your teeth, your breath will stay fresh. No one likes to have bad breath.