On: Brush your teeth – postpone Alzheimer's

[d0mine]

There are whole countries where flossing is not a thing. Fluoridated water protects your teeth. The rest may be just culture.

[dgacmu → d0mine]

Almost all cultures have some mechanism of cleaning larger food particles between teeth, particularly back teeth. But, more to the point -- absence of evidence is not evidence of absence:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/tossing-flossing-2016081...

[AstralStorm → dgacmu]

Ultimately, absence of evidence when we have actual trials testing it is some evidence of absence.

[stevesimmons → d0mine]

Fluoride protects teeth, not gums!

[AstralStorm → stevesimmons]

Healthy teeth project gums, or rather, unhealthy teeth lead to gum problems in the long run.

[stevesimmons → AstralStorm]

... and food stuck between teeth leads to gum problems in the short run!