There’s no shortage of tricks, snacks, and habits that claim to help you stay healthier longer. But while we’re busy chasing the latest upgrades—from cold plunges and green powders to living out the gospel of your Oura Ring—we tend to miss out on the less exciting but still powerful tweaks that have been proven to meaningfully move the needle on long-term health.
One such staple is the humble roll of floss, which is probably collecting dust in your medicine cabinet. However, you should probably take it at night to not only have a brighter, cleaner smile, but to benefit your heart and mind as well.
Keep reading to find out why skipping that one floss could have consequences beyond tender gums.
Why is the thread non-negotiable?
If you think that brushing your teeth twice a day will be enough for your oral health, then you are in for some worrying news. according to We are Hoss, DDSauthor If Your Mouth Could Talk: An in-depth guide to oral health and its impact on your entire lifeYour toothbrush only cleans 60 percent of the surface of your teeth. Read: If you don’t floss, almost half of your mouth becomes unclean day by day.
“Flossing is a simple but critical intervention because it disrupts bacterial biofilms between teeth, areas that a toothbrush cannot reach,” adds the board-certified periodontist. Richard Najat, DDS. When you floss consistently, you reduce bacterial load, plaque buildup, and gingivitis — all of which can help prevent gum disease (also known as periodontal disease). There’s a good chance you’ll be affected: According to the Cleveland Clinic, about half of adults in the United States have some form of gum disease.
The tissues surrounding these small incisions also deserve your full attention. “The sulcus—the shallow groove where your gums meet your teeth—is lined with some of the most permeable tissue in the human body,” Dr. Hoos tells SELF. “It’s rich in blood vessels, which means that bacteria and any compounds we put in there have a remarkably direct path into the bloodstream.” This is where the long-term benefits of using dental floss come into play.
The relationship between flossing and disease prevention
In addition to avoiding gum disease, research shows that regular flossing is associated with a lower risk of gum disease Dementia, Alzheimer’s diseaseand Stroke. It can also be an important part of Diabetes management. Meanwhile, poor flossing habits have been linked to an increased risk of cancer Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD mortality. According to One study Among more than 5,000 older adults who never flossed, their risk of death was 30% higher than when they flossed daily.
