Skipping the floss
This much we know: Gum disease can increase the risk of dying, but regular flossing can add up to six years of life expectancy in otherwise healthy people, says Saul Pressner, DMD, a dentist in New York City. “It is hypothesized that by flossing one reduces the amount of microorganisms in the mouth, therefore reducing oral inflammation,” he says. “Less inflamed gums are less likely to bleed and therefore fewer bacteria and viruses will enter the bloodstream from a healthy mouth.”