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Here's an interesting data point: a while back, my dentist noted that my teeth had significantly less plaque than the last time I'd had a cleaning. I'd changed

Here's an interesting data point: a while back, my dentist noted that my teeth had significantly less plaque than the last time I'd had a cleaning. I'd changed over to a low-carb diet in the interim, & they stayed in good shape between that cleaning & the one after that. I've seen similar reports from others. Could it be that plaque is a problem far more because of diet (sugars, grains) than because of insufficient flossing? It would be worth a study, especially if clear results came of it one way or the other.

MattGaiser 3y ago
I thought this was fairly common knowledge. Dentists have been against sweets/white bread/pop for a long time.
- flenserboy 3y ago
  Their arguments are generally only about cavities, not about plaque buildup. Amazing how people always want to go to pharmaceuticals first instead of checking out other, simpler options.
  - basisword 3y ago
    Unless I’m mistaken it’s plaque that causes cavities.
winrid 3y ago
I would say yes, and I think it's pretty common knowledge. Personally, my wife didn't have plaque buildup or dental problems for over 10yrs, so she never went to the dentist. After she moved to the US and started eating sugar she had to regularly visit the dentist.
capitainenemo 3y ago
FWIW, my dentist regularly comments that I have little to no plaque buildup. I don't floss. I eat a carb heavy diet, but complex carbs, few simple sugars/fructose. Also eat just once a day which might play into it.
galdosdi 3y ago
This has been common knowledge since before I was a kid in the 1990s, when the local dentist on the block would give out apples and toothbrushes instead of candy on halloween, to the disappointment of many kids. And I don't think my local dentist was the only one. Soda (and beer) in particular is one of the worst, perfectly designed to destroy your teeth since it's not just highly sweet, but also acidic and also a liquid and thus able to coat every nook and cranny
- xk_id 3y ago
  I would add acidic fruit to the list too.

MattGaiser 3y ago

I thought this was fairly common knowledge. Dentists have been against sweets/white bread/pop for a long time.

flenserboy 3y ago
Their arguments are generally only about cavities, not about plaque buildup. Amazing how people always want to go to pharmaceuticals first instead of checking out other, simpler options.
- basisword 3y ago
  Unless I’m mistaken it’s plaque that causes cavities.

winrid 3y ago

I would say yes, and I think it's pretty common knowledge. Personally, my wife didn't have plaque buildup or dental problems for over 10yrs, so she never went to the dentist. After she moved to the US and started eating sugar she had to regularly visit the dentist.

capitainenemo 3y ago

FWIW, my dentist regularly comments that I have little to no plaque buildup. I don't floss. I eat a carb heavy diet, but complex carbs, few simple sugars/fructose. Also eat just once a day which might play into it.

galdosdi 3y ago

This has been common knowledge since before I was a kid in the 1990s, when the local dentist on the block would give out apples and toothbrushes instead of candy on halloween, to the disappointment of many kids. And I don't think my local dentist was the only one. Soda (and beer) in particular is one of the worst, perfectly designed to destroy your teeth since it's not just highly sweet, but also acidic and also a liquid and thus able to coat every nook and cranny

xk_id 3y ago
I would add acidic fruit to the list too.