This SMART Floss Exposes Hidden Health Danger

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted August 10, 2025

Scientists have created dental floss that doesn’t just clean between your teeth—it also tracks your stress while you’re flossing.

Now, I know what you’re thinking… “Great—now even flossing is going to stress me out by telling me how stressed I am.”

But this fascinating new tool from Tufts University could be a game-changer for understanding and managing something that’s quietly wreaking havoc on millions of us: chronic stress.

And while this smart floss isn’t on the market yet, it highlights why we need better ways to track stress—and more importantly, how we can manage it today.

This isn’t just a gimmick—this floss measures cortisol levels in your saliva.

Cortisol, often called the stress hormone, is produced by your adrenal glands and plays a critical role in regulating your body’s response to stress. It also regulates blood pressure, controls your sleep-wake cycle, and influences a range of other vital functions.

In small doses, cortisol is helpful—it’s part of your body’s natural fight-or-flight response. But when stress becomes chronic and cortisol levels stay elevated, that’s when real problems start.

Life gets stressful, especially as we get older and  juggle health issues, family responsibilities, and all the other curveballs life throws our way.

But chronic stress takes a toll, and can have serious consequences:

• Increased risk of heart disease
• Decreased immune function
• Mental health issues
• Impaired cognition and memory problems
• Sleep disruption
• Weight gain, especially around the midsection
• Accelerated aging

Currently, checking your cortisol means blood or saliva tests, lab visits, and waiting days for results. And by the time you get those results, your stress levels could have changed entirely.

The genius of this smart floss is that it can provide real-time feedback on your stress levels, all while you’re doing something you should already be doing every day.

Imagine flossing your teeth and getting an instant read on whether your stress levels are in the danger zone. You could catch chronic stress early and do something about it before it starts damaging your health.

While we wait for this technology to hit the market, there are things you can do right now to get a handle on stress and keep cortisol levels in check.

Try these simple stress-busters that actually work:

• Deep Breathing—It may sound too simple, but taking just five minutes to breathe deeply can lower cortisol levels almost immediately. Try the 4-7-8 technique: breathe in through your nose for 4 counts, hold for 7, exhale through your mouth for 8.
• Move More—Regular exercise is one of the most effective stress relievers, but you don’t need to become a gym rat. The best exercise is the exercise you’ll actually do. Even a 20-minute walk can help reset your stress response.
• Prioritize Sleep—Poor sleep drives cortisol levels through the roof. Aim for seven to eight hours a night and try to keep a consistent sleep schedule, even on weekends.
• Connect With Others—Feeling isolated raises stress hormones. Even a quick phone call with a friend can help bring cortisol levels down.
• Practice Saying “No”—At your age, you’ve earned the right to protect your time and energy. You don’t have to say yes to every request or invitation.
• Try Meditation or Prayer—Five minutes of quiet reflection can reduce your stress hormones.
• Get Outside—Time spent in nature reduces cortisol levels. Don’t have a park nearby? No problem—even sitting in your backyard or by a window with a view can help.
• Supplements—The adaptogenic herbs ashwagandha, rhodiola, and holy basil regulate cortisol levels naturally. Check with your doctor before trying them, especially if you take any medications.

The truth is, most of us are walking around with chronically elevated stress levels without even realizing it. We’ve gotten so used to feeling “wired and tired” that we think it’s normal.

It’s not normal, and it’s definitely not healthy.

While cortisol-sensing smart floss will be useful when it arrives, you don’t need fancy technology to start managing your stress now. You just need to take it seriously and make some simple changes.

P.S. Why we crave crunchy foods when we’re stressed.

Source:

Atul Sharma, Nafize Ishtiaque Hossain, Ayanna Thomas, Sameer Sonkusa, Saliva-Sensing Dental Floss: An Innovative Tool for Assessing Stress via On-Demand Salivary Cortisol Measurement with Molecularly Imprinted Polymer and Thread Microfluidics Integration, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2025, 17, 17, 25083–25096

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

View More By Dr. Scott Olson, ND