Why You Should Floss Daily

Tooth and gum disease can have effects that go far beyond discolored teeth, discomfort or bad breath! Bacteria that flourish in an unhealthy mouth can harm the rest of the body, contributing to heart disease and respiratory illness. This is such a significant issue that, in 2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began calling for public health initiatives to address oral health as a step toward addressing these potentially life-threatening systemic diseases: conditions that affect multiple organs and body systems. There is clear evidence between oral infections and cardiovascular disease (CVD) that have established a plausible link between oral bacteria and atherosclerosis! For our medical nerds: The microbe: Streptococcus mutans: commonly found in the human oral cavity is a significant contributor to tooth decay. It is implicated in the pathogenesis of certain cardiovascular diseases, and is the most prevalent bacterial species detected in extirpated heart valve tissues, as well as in atheromatous plaques. Bacterial burden by Porphyromonas gingivalis, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia in subgingival plaque samples have also been associated with carotid intima-media thickening! So the next time you decide to floss, know that flossing doesn’t just give you a pretty smile, it also protects your heart and your arteries! This is also an excellent example of how looking at the human body from a holistic perspective can connect different pathologies and professions (e.g., dental care and medical care).

Written by Student Doctor: Navpreet Singh Badesha ©01/13/2017 All Rights Reserved.
Inspired by: Robert LeThis Research was published in the National Library of Medicine:
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3084572/)