Perhaps frequent brushing does do this. But I brush twice daily as well. The primary reasons I brush is to stimulate the gums in front and in back. The reason I floss (about 3 - 4 times per day) is to remove food after I eat and stimulate the gums between the teeth, something brushing doesn't do. Last 8 months or so I've been using an electronic toothbrush which has improved things greatly. I get a lot of calculus build-up and have my teeth cleaned about every 4 months. As I get older, this has seemed more important because the gums get inflamed, and the gingival pockets get deeper. I have been basically paleo for only about 3 years, so perhaps I already did a lot of damage there. But the calculus build-up continues and that is why I go to the dentist. Since I've been using the new toothbrush, my gums are in much better shape and the cleanings are much easier. I also had stains on my teeth which I suspect are caused by green tea consumption. The new toothbrush seems to have removed these stains too. I am sure brushing and flossing helps improve gum health. On balance, it may also contribute to some extra wear on the tooth surface which is a negative. It may alter the flora, but OTOH that may depend upon what toothpaste you use. Trish Tipton wrote: > > > Frequent brushing will also alter the natural protective flora of > > the > > mouth. > > > > > I brush twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. I have had > only 2 fillings in my life, and my children ages 17, 13 and 12 have NEVER > had a cavity. They brush twice a day also. > Trish > ________________________________________________________________ > YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! > Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! > Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: > http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.