The main cause of periodontal (gum) disease is plaque, but other factors affect the health of your gums.
Brushing your teeth and flossing may seem a skippable chore. But that chore is one of the easiest, most efficient ways to tend your overall health — much more so than you might guess. It may seem hard to believe that a well-flossed mouth could make you more fertile and slow mental decline, but there’s evidence on both points.