Your Toothbrush Is Filthy

According to researchers at Columbia University and the University of Minnesota, the bacteria living on your toohrbush can also cause thickening of the carotid arteries, a precursor to heart attacks and strokes.

Submerge the bristles in a glass of antiseptic mouth rinse after brushing. Researchers at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio found that 100 per cent of Candida albicans (a yeast-like fungus responsible for oral disease) were neutralised 105 minutes after submersion.

Floss isn’t flawless
Flossing can help you shed scum on the flat fronts of your teeth. Problem is, your choppers have pleats. Plaque and bacteria hide in the divots between molars and can creep beyond the gum-line. A water jet reaches where waxed string won’t. In a University of Nebraska study, a dental jet was up to 93 per cent more effective than floss at reducing gum bleeding, a leading indicator of gum disease, which makes those twice yearly dental visits still necessary.

TIP: Brush Better
Boosting your brushing time pays more dividends than worrying about technique. Adding 40 seconds to an average 40-second session can remove an additional 21 per cent of plaque, according to a 2008 study. Brushing force and grip had no impact on plaque removal, but a pen grip led to significantly fewer gum injuries than a palm grip.

Tags: Style Grooming, Grooming, Health, Men’s Health, Style, Tips, Useful,

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