8 Real Reasons to Floss Your Teeth

Not flossing could have some serious adverse affects on your overall health and wellbeing. Some might seem pretty trivial but long before you know it, you could end up with some pretty regrettable diseases. Below we have some reasons to reach for the minty thread daily.

1. Your teeth could fall out!

Adults 20 to 64 have lost an average of seven (permanent) teeth, and 10% of Americans between 50 and 64 have absolutely no teeth left. Both cavities and gum disease can end in tooth loss.

Source: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

Eek! 7 teeth lost?? Where’s my floss?

2. Bad Breath

Gum and mints won’t cure the root cause of chronic bad breath. Bad breath can be caused by gum disease, which leads your gums to become loosened, causing food debris and bacteria to get stuck in the pockets between your tooth and gum. Your gums essentially become home to decomposing particles of flesh.

3. Erectile dysfunction.

Men — pay attention here! While we aren’t rodents, extensive studies have been conducted on biological similarities between humans and rats. This is something we’d take seriously.

One study in rats found that periodontitis impaired penis function. While it’s unclear whether the same direct effects would be found in humans, in a group of patients between 30 and 40, 53% of those with erectile dysfunction had severe periodontitis, while only 23% of those without ED did. “We think that it will be of benefit to consider periodontal disease as a causative clinical condition of ED in such patients,” the authors wrote.

Source: The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2011; The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2012; Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 2012

4. Pregnancy complications.

You wouldn’t want to force bad habits on your kids, and potentially cause your little one harm. Speak with your doctor about calcium supplements if you’re pregnant and think you might be deficient.

When pregnant women have serious dental problems, their infants are more likely to develop cavities. Poor maternal oral health is also associated with low birth weight and preterm birth, although there’s not enough evidence yet to know whether it’s an independent risk factor. Researchers suspect that one of two mechanisms may be at play: Either overall inflammation is heightened, or oral bacteria that enter the bloodstream eventually colonize the placenta, causing an inflammatory response.

Source: Journal of Clinical Nursing, 2010; Ginekologia Polska, 2012; Dental Clinics of North America, 2013

5. Easier, less invasive dental visits.

Your dentist will be happy, and will spare your mouth a root canal or two, if you keep your pearly whites and gums healthy. Next time you feel like skipping a floss session, picture yourself staring down the barrel of a spit sucker.

6. Your significant other will thank you.

7. Because Pharrell does it.

Seriously though. Flossing might not necessarily make you happy, but preventing disease and taking care of your body will help you stay healthy, which contributes to overall feelings of satisfaction and happiness.

8. And lastly, to avoid maggot mouth.

Check out if you dare: Dentist Removing 15 MAGGOTS from inside little girl’s gum

Visit your dentist regularly folks.