Piranha jee, I completely agree with you in terms of flossing. We could be brushing our teeth twice a day and using Listerine. However, there is food and other particals that get lodged between teeth. This junk is called tarter, and over time it causes builtup. Thus, flossing is an excellent thing to do.

Bhakte jee, I'm gonna have to go do some research with doctors to get this answer. The prevention against gout is using iodine-rich salt, which is not a problem in the United States, because most commercial salts have iodine in them. I know that gout is caused by uric acid builtup in joints. The treatment ranges vary.