What happens in the mouth: plaque and disease

Your dentist might be nagging you to floss to avoid cavities, but does flossing have more to given than pearly whites?

Interdental cleaning has been recommended for a while, but for many people it’s a habit hard to maintain.

Norman and Tegan pick through the history of flossing, and whether it can improve your heart and brain health too.

Terms and conditions of our World Science Festival Brisbane ticket giveaway! 

References:

• Ask the Expert: Do I Really Need to Floss? - NIH 
• Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal diseases and dental caries
• Flossing Is Associated with Improved Oral Health in Older Adults 
• Does flossing before or after brushing influence the reduction in the plaque index? A systematic review and meta-analysis
• Why would cardiovascular disease and poor oral health be connected? - Harvard Health 
• Oral health and later coronary heart disease: Cohort study of one million people
• Stronger connections made between oral health and Alzheimer's disease 
• Large study links gum disease with dementia 
• What Dentists Have to Say About Red-Light Therapy for Optimal Oral Health 

If you enjoyed this episode, check these out!

• How risky is sharing a toothbrush?
• Should you be avoiding perfumes and fragrances?
• Do healthy people need lymphatic treatments?