Floss only the teeth you want to keep.

Flossing helps get rid of plaque, which is the sticky, colorless bacterial film that can build up on the sides of your teeth.

Too much plaque build-up means you're on your way to tooth decay, which can cause holes (cavities) in a tooth's hard outer layer (the enamel). Left untreated? You might be up for a lot of pain, infection and scary-big dental bills.

TLDR: Ignore plaque at your peril.

As if cavities aren’t bad enough, plaque build-up can also cause gum disease, making your gums sensitive and inflamed. This can lead to bleeding gums, loose teeth and even tooth loss. While early-stage gum disease (gingivitis) is reversible, later-stage gum disease (periodontitis) is not. Nearly half of adults over 30 have some form of gum disease, so start flossing now to save your future teeth.

Good health starts in the mouth, but it doesn’t end there. Oral care contributes to our long-term health and wellbeing, with poor oral health associated with a range of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, dementia and oral cancer. The simple act of flossing today can help protect you tomorrow.

Bad breath. No one wants it. But unfortunately it happens when bacteria interacts with residual food particles in the mouth. A simple preventative? Flossing. When you floss, you disrupt the growth of bacteria between the teeth, stimulate blood flow to the gums, and knock loose any food particles stuck between the teeth. More flossing, less bad-breath stress.

We know that oral health is connected to whole body health since your mouth is literally the front door to your entire body. But we’re also learning that oral health is intimately connected to mental health.

The connection between the two is bidirectional: Oral health problems are often exacerbated when a person has mental health needs, and mental health is likely to be made worse by poor oral health. Practicing good oral health habits (like flossing) can lead to reduced stress, anxiety and depression.

So you can add Flaus to your daily meditation practice for peace of mind and gums.