Easy Health Hacks to Maintain Health and Longevity

@saragottfriedmd A couple of years ago the government released the results of a study they completed that flossing did not improve your health. As a dentist, I can assure you this is incorrect and borderline irresponsible. The only good thing is that those of you who already floss will probably not stop and if you don't do it already, I doubt this will have any bearing on whether you start or not. But check out this post from

Dr. Sara Gottfried's instagram account.  She is a wonderful doctor that specializes in overall wellness and certainly deserves your attention.  Give her a follow and check out her books. I'll link to some of them in under my book tab. And now from Dr. Gottfried... "Simplest way to improve health? Flossing. It fosters longevity, independent of brushing one’s teeth, as does seeing the dentist at least twice per year (I go quarterly). If you don’t floss, your risk of mortality is 30 percent higher and if you see the dentist only once per year, you raise mortality by 30 to 50 percent. ⠀ ⠀ How does that work? Well, you have more than seven hundred species of bacteria in your mouth. The tongue is a common place for biofilms to form— that’s a group of microorganisms that behave like a gang, sticking to each other and adhering to the surface in a coating. They can cause bad breath, inflammation (gingivitis), plaque, cavities, and premature aging. ⠀ ⠀ More bad bugs in your mouth are correlated with thickening carotid arteries, a sign of atherosclerosis and precursor to stroke, which reduces blood flow to the brain.⠀ ⠀ Recently it was reported that researchers in Norway have been busy delving deeper into the connection between Alzheimer's and gum disease. Researcher, Piotr Mydel at Broegelmanns Research Laboratory, University of Bergen, says that the bacteria causing gingivitis can move from the mouth to the brain. The bacteria produces a protein that destroys nerve cells in the brain, which in turn leads to loss of memory and ultimately, Alzheimer´s. Mydel points out that the bacteria is not causing Alzheimer´s alone, but the presence of these bacteria raise the risk for developing the disease substantially and are also implicated in a more rapid progression of the disease. ⠀ ⠀ In another study, Porphyromonas gingivalis, the keystone pathogen in chronic periodontitis (inflammation of the gums), was identified in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients. (Dominy, (2019), "Porphyromonas gingivalis in Alzheimer’s disease brains: Evidence for disease causation and treatment with small-molecule inhibitors")⠀ ⠀ Floss at least twice a day. Buy a power toothbrush, and use it twice a day or more. Powered toothbrushes reduce plaque and gingivitis more than manual brushing in the short and long term. Aim for 2-3 minutes twice per day with your electric brush. Flossing can prevent periodontal disease after as little as one month of regular use."

I couldn't have said it better myself. Follow Dr.Gottfreid and share this with those you love.