Flossing your teeth is an important part of dental hygiene and heart health.

Dr. Sasha Ross, a periodontist from the Cleveland Clinic, said the connection between the two could be due to gum disease, leading to inflammation and bacteria in the heart. People may have bleeding, swollen gums, loose teeth and cavities.

“I think a lot of people are never taught how to properly floss and what kind of floss to use, so at one of these visits we can work with you and show you how to do it,” said Ross. “Then just make it part of your daily routine. I say it’s really good to floss once a day, so ideally you do it at night before you go to bed.”

There are other products available if you have trouble flossing, like a water pick or specialized brushes that can clean between teeth.