10 REASONS YOU SHOULD FLOSS
1 IT HELPS CLEAN ALL OF YOUR TEETH . . .
Daily use of dental floss or interdental brushes is recommended by dentists in order to remove any bacteria between the teeth which may lead to a build-up of harmful plaque. Brushing alone cleans only the front, the back and the biting surface of the tooth. 2 . . . AND KEEPS THEM YOUNG
Plaque’s stickiness keeps acids attached to the surface of your teeth, giving the acids an opportunity to break down tooth enamel. This helps cause gum disease and yellow teeth. 3 IT BANISHES BAD BREATH
Cleaning the area between your teeth removes food debris and plaque. Left to linger, the debris rots and the bacteria breeds and releases sulphur compounds which cause bad breath. 4 STOPS BLEEDING GUMS Bleeding gums are a symptom of gum disease, which 75 per cent of adults have. While gums may bleed more when you begin flossing, cleaning between your teeth can reverse gum disease over time, according to the US Academy of General Dentistry. 5 MAY REDUCE HEART ATTACK RISK
One theory is that over time, bacteria from the mouth enters the bloodstream and attaches to fatty deposits in the heart blood vessels, causing clots that may lead to heart attacks or strokes. 6 IT COULD LENGTHEN YOUR LIFE . . . According to scientists from
the United University States, of post-menopausal Buffalo in the women who lose teeth are 12 per cent more likely to suffer an early death as gum disease could be a sign of cardiovascular illness. 7
... AND PREVENT ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION Gum disease has been linked with hardening of the arteries, in many studies. Commonly, tiny arteries in the pelvis first are affected first, making erectile dysfunction an early sign of heart disease. 8 HELPS CONTROL ARTHRITIS
High levels of citrullinated proteins, which can trigger flare-ups of rheumatoid arthritis, have been found in the mouths of people with gum disease, according to researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. They say healthy gums could provide protection for sufferers. 9 IT STAVES OFF DEMENTIA
Gum disease could increase the risk of developing dementia by up to 70 per cent, Taiwanese researchers reported. It is thought that inflammation in the mouth may trigger an immune reaction which damages surrounding tissues, and eventually makes its way to the brain. 10 HELPS PROTECT UNBORN BABIES
Expectant mothers with a severe form of gum disease, called periodontitis, have a higher risk of giving birth to underweight, premature babies, due to the effect of toxins released by mouth bacteria, the prestigious Cochrane organisation found.