Flossing is very important part of your daily dental care habits not only for your teeth but for you gums. People do not always realize just how important it is to take care of their gums as well as their teeth. Gum disease is an infection of the gum tissue and bone that support the teeth and is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. In addition, according to recent studies it has been shown that the health of your gums may have a connection to some chronic diseases. Having gum disease has been linked to and may be a risk factor in developing Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease and diabetes. Experts are studying how inflammation in the mouth caused by gum disease may influence other areas of the body such as your brain, heart and pancreas. Although the exact connection between gum disease and some other chronic diseases is not known, this connection between medical and dental conditions highlights the importance of maintaining good oral health to achieve good overall health.