Montreal Gazette - 'Floss or die': Alarmist, yes, but also true

(Chemistry professor Joe Schwarcz):

"The headline that appeared roughly 20 years ago in a number of newspapers, including The Gazette, was short and powerful. "Floss or Die!" Here we go again, I remember thinking, more inane fear mongering.

Well, as it turns out, the headline may have been over the top, but we now know that there is a significant connection between poor oral health and heart disease. And it all has to do with bacteria.

Our mouth is teeming with them, over 600 varieties. Tiny creatures, over a hundred million of them can be found in every millilitre of saliva…"