I’ve only started flossing consistently in recent years… By that I mean my teeth, not the dance move (I still can’t do the dance move for longer than 5 seconds without messing it up).
I’ve been pretty fortunate with my teeth in that I've never had any cavities and they’re naturally fairly straight. Although, I did crack one of my teeth on the day after my wedding.. but that’s a story for another day.
My dentist & dental hygienist have always told me that I should floss to reduce my risk of gum disease. And I have tried to do it consistently but sometimes it’s easy to not feel bothered about it, particularly when the consequences are not immediately noticeable. However, after many years of observing my wife’s avid flossing, it has gradually become part of my bedtime routine, and now I’ve started thinking about the long-term implications of gum disease.
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, has two main stages. It starts with gingivitis where the gums become red and swollen and can bleed easily. If left untreated, this can progress to periodontitis where the gums can recede and teeth can become loose and fall out.
Recently, I’ve learned about a possible link between gum disease and dementia. A study published in 2020 looked at whether there was an association between oral hygiene and dementia.[1] It followed participants over a 20 year period, involving people with an average age of 63 who did not have dementia at the start of the study. They were grouped according to the degree of gum disease and the number of missing teeth. At the end of the study, 4,559 people were assessed. Of those with healthy gums and all their teeth at the beginning, 14% had dementia 20 years later, whereas among participants with severe gum disease, 22% had developed dementia over the same period.
This suggests that there may be an association between dementia and poor oral hygiene, and it serves as a timely reminder that we should be flossing daily and brushing our teeth twice a day for at least two minutes each time.
So while flossing may feel like a minor chore, it could be an easy way to invest in future brain health. It’s an excellent potential return for 30 seconds with a bit of string.
👋 For the new joiners: I’m Suraj, also known as Dr Sooj - a primary care doctor & health content creator. I love navigating the complex world of health and wellness and breaking down complicated concepts.
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Suraj (Doctor Sooj)
References:
[1] Demmer RT, Norby FL, Lakshminarayan K, Walker KA, Pankow JS, Folsom AR, Mosley T, Beck J, Lutsey PL. Periodontal disease and incident dementia: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC). Neurology. 2020 Sep 22;95(12):e1660–e1671. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000010312