Flossing Gets to the Root of Serious Illnesses

We’ve all heard it all our lives, brush twice per day and floss daily. That flossing part seems to be the bane of our existence so much of the time. Who hasn’t been guilty of flossing just before a dental appointment so no one has to lie about it when asked? But flossing isn’t just a mundane task the dentist asks you to do just to waste time.

Flossing helps guard against periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is related to a host of other serious illnesses including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis and kidney disease.  Countless studies have been done that indicate flossing to be a simple way of preventing plaque build-up and resulting gingivitis.

One has to think of flossing not just as a mundane task, but as a way of ridding the mouth of bacteria. Brushing alone cannot give your teeth and gums the care they need to stay healthy. A healthy mouth helps maintain overall health in the body. It is a simple measure and yet most people just don’t take the time to  do it.

Recently there have been studies done with twins to see what kind of results can be achieved from flossing. Using twins helps with keeping any genetic factors as similar as possible. New York University conducted a study using 51 sets of twins between the ages of 12 and 21. Each of them was randomly assigned a two-week treatment regimen with one twin brushing with a manual toothbrush and toothpaste and the other twin doing the same with the addition of flossing. At the end of the trial, samples were taken from both twins and compared for levels of bacteria commonly associated with periodontal disease.

The study proved that the twins who did not floss had significantly more bacteria than those who flossed. This proved the impact of taking that extra minute or two to floss. Keeping a clean mouth can help keep a body healthy. Aren’t you worth it?