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Be well: Floss your teeth daily for better heart health
Less plaque, fewer cavities and healthier gums may be the more obvious benefits of flossing your teeth — but did you know it could also lower your risk of heart disease?
"There are a lot of studies that have talked about — at least for periodontal disease — the connection between gum disease and heart health," said Sasha Ross, DMD, a periodontist for Cleveland Clinic.
Gum disease can cause high blood pressure and lead to inflammation and bacteria in the heart, research has shown, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
"There’s really a very strong association between the two, where patients who have periodontal disease are at a much greater risk for having heart disease, stroke or other issues like that," Dr. Ross also told Fox News Digital.
Some 43% of adults 30 and older have some type of gum disease, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For adults 65 and older, that number rises to 70%.
Some people are more susceptible to complications even if they brush and floss every day, while others can do the bare minimum but have no issues at all, Dr. Ross pointed out.
Those who have heart valve disease are at a higher risk, according to Dr. Marietta Ambrose, assistant professor of clinical medicine at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine.
"The bacteria that live in your mouth when you have gum disease can cross into your bloodstream, enter the heart and directly infect the vulnerable heart valves," she said in a 2022 article on Penn Medicine’s website. "That’s especially concerning in our patients who have artificial heart valves."
Repercussions of not flossing
People should brush their teeth at least twice a day and floss once a day, either before or after brushing, says the American Dental Association (ADA).
Some signs of flossing negligence include bleeding or swollen gums, plaque buildup, cavities, loose teeth, bad breath and gum recession, Dr. Ross said.
"I think a lot of people are never taught how to properly floss and what kind of floss to use, so at one of these visits we can work with you and show you how to do it," she said.
"Then just make it part of your daily routine. I say it’s really good to floss once a day, ideally at night before you go to bed."
For those who are unsure about the proper way to floss, Dr. Ross recommends using a water pick or special brushes designed to clean between the teeth.
Tips for proper flossing
For best results, Dr. Ross recommends flossing between each set of teeth 10 to 15 times in an up-and-down motion. You can start from anywhere in the mouth. For each tooth, use a new, clean section of floss.
Waxed and unwaxed floss are both effective for plaque removal, but waxed floss might be easier for those whose teeth are spaced tightly together, Dr. Ross told Fox News Digital.
注释：
plaque: n
1.表示"[医]齿菌斑"，means "(pathology) a small abnormal patch on or inside the body"，如：Scientists have found a compound in the fruit can stop bacteria from clinging to the teeth, blocking the formation of damaging plaque deposits.科学家在这种水果中发现一种化合物，可以阻止细菌黏附在牙齿上，防止破坏性齿菌斑沉淀物的形成。
2. 表示"匾"，means "a memorial made of brass"，如：A bronze plaque marks the house where the poet was born. 一块铜匾标示出诗人诞生的那所房子。
cavity: n
表示"蛀洞; 洞；空穴"，means "empty space within sth solid"，如：I have a toothache because there is a cavity in one of my teeth.我牙疼，因为我的一颗牙齿上有个洞。
periodontal: adj
表示" 牙周的；齿根膜的"，means "of or relating to or involving or practicing periodontics"，如：Most people with lung abscess will be found to have periodontal disease.多数肺脓肿患者可发现有牙周病。
inflammation：n
表示"发炎；炎症；"，means "a response of body tissues to injury or irritation; characterized by pain and swelling and redness and heat"，如：He has an inflammation of the lungs.他得了肺炎。
susceptible: adj
表示"易受感染的；容许…的"，means "easily impressed emotionally; yielding readily to or capable of"，如：Children are more susceptible than adults. 孩子比成人易受外界的影响。Please note that e-mails are susceptible to change. 请注意邮件是容许变化的。
Artificial: adj
表示"人造的；虚伪的"，means "made by humans, especially as a copy of sth natural; insincere"，如：This orange drink contains no artificial flavourings. 这种橙汁饮品不含人工调味料。She welcomed us with an artificial smile on her face. 她脸上挂着虚委的笑容来迎接我们。
negligence: n
表示" 疏忽；"，means " failure to take enough care over sth that you are responsible for"，如：He was sharply reprimanded for his negligence. 他因玩忽职责而受到严厉的申斥。
swollen: adj
表示" 肿大的；水涨的"，swell的过去分词。如：His face was swollen (up) with toothache. 他的脸因牙痛而肿了起来。
recession：n
表示" 后退；（经济）不景气"，means "movement back from a previous position;withdrawal"，如：A few days later, there was a gradual recession of flood waters.几天之后,洪水逐渐消退。The recession has caused thousands of bankruptcy.经济不景气造成数千万的破产。
中文简要说明：
很多人都晓得利用牙线有助于保持牙齿健康，其实这个好习惯也能保护心脏。美国克利夫兰医学中心指出，减少牙菌斑、蛀牙同时促进牙龈健康，有可能让心脏病的发生机率降低。
克利夫兰医学中心（Cleveland Clinic）是《新闻周刊》（Newsweek）今年评选的全球最佳医疗机构第二名。福斯新闻网（Fox News）报导，克利夫兰医学中心牙周病医师罗斯（Sasha Ross）说，早已有许多研究钻研牙龈健康与心脏健康之间的关系，然而很多人并不知道两者彼此相关。
克利夫兰医学中心指出，牙龈疾病可能导致高血压，也会引起心脏发言、滋生细菌。罗斯说明，牙龈与心脏的健康关系密切，罹患牙周疾病的人发生心脏疾病、中风或其他相关疾病的机率高得多。
美国疾病管制暨预防中心（U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention，CDC）数据显示，全美30岁以上民众43%有牙龈相关疾病；65岁以上者，罹患牙龈病症的比例暴增到70%。
罗斯同时也指出，心脏健康仍有其他因素要考虑，有些人即使天天刷牙、以牙线洁牙，还是比较容易出现并发症；有些人仅仅做到最基本的洁牙要求，却几乎没有问题发生。
宾州大学佩雷尔曼医学院（Perelman School of Medicine）临床医学助理教授安卜洛斯（Marietta Ambrose）表示，心脏瓣膜有恙的人，因牙龈引发心脏疾病的风险较高，她在2022年即在医学院官网发文提醒，「如果牙龈不健康，住在口腔里的细菌会经由血液进入心脏，直接感染脆弱的瓣膜，这一点对于安装人工瓣膜的患者而言更是令人担忧」。
美国牙医协会（American Dental Association，ADA）指出，人们每天应该刷牙至少2次，使用牙线至少1次，在刷牙之前或之后使用牙线均可。
罗斯提醒，疏于使用牙线的征兆包括牙龈流血肿胀、牙菌斑增加、蛀牙、掉牙齿、口臭、牙龈萎缩，「每天使用牙线一次真的有好处，最理想的时间点是夜里睡觉之前」。她也强调，大家要学习正确使用牙线的方法、选择适合自己的牙线类型。不太会操作牙线的人可以考虑使用冲牙机或牙间刷。
罗斯建议，每一处齿缝应以牙线清洁10到15次，而且要上下滑动，每一颗牙齿的缝隙都要用干净的牙线清洁，不要重复使用。牙线含蜡与否不影响清洁效果，但对于牙齿间隙很紧密的人而言，含蜡牙线使用起来比较轻松。
ADA建议，除了刷牙与使用牙线，每隔一段时间要找牙医检查牙齿，甜食甜饮摄取量要设限，这两招能让护齿效果更上层楼。
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