Did you know that gingivits, along with later stages of gum disease, is one of the known markers of heart disease, as well as associated with a number of other conditions including diabetes and Alzheimers? Gum disease is primarily the result of a lack of balanced minerals and other nutrients in your diet. Stress can play a significant role. Pregnancy, breastfeeding and adolescent growth spurts all put extra demands on the body that can lead to gum loss. When these factors are at play, gums are vulnerable to the otherwise harmless bacteria in our mouth.

Along with dietary improvements, regular flossing can help to prevent receding gums, gingivitis, gum pockets and gum disease.

If you avoid flossing your teeth because you don’t like how it feels, you are probably doing it wrong. With the right floss and correct technique flossing is pleasurable as well as healthy!

Watch me demonstrate my feel-good flossing method in this short video.

If you avoid regular flossing because your gums bleed try the flossing technique demonstrated in this video. And if your gums don’t stop after a few days of regular flossing, it’s an indication that the bleeding is caused by systemic problems that need to be addressed holistically.  When we are in good health and getting appropriate nutrients, our gums are resilient to the bacteria that is part of our mouth’s ecosystem.