What's That Rash?

Can flossing benefit more than your teeth?

Your dentist might be nagging you to floss to avoid cavities, but does flossing have more to given than pearly whites?Interdental cleaning has been recommended for a while, but for many people it’s a habit hard to maintain.Norman and Tegan pick through the history of flossing, and whether it can improve your heart and brain health too.Terms and conditions of our World Science Festival Brisbane ticket giveaway! References: Ask the Expert: Do I Really Need to Floss? - NIH  Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing, for preventing and controlling periodontal diseases and dental caries Flossing Is Associated with Improved Oral Health in Older Adults  Does flossing before or after brushing influence the reduction in the plaque index? A systematic review and meta-analysis Why would cardiovascular disease and poor oral health be connected? - Harvard Health  Oral health and later coronary heart disease: Cohort study of one million people Stronger connections made between oral health and Alzheimer's disease  Large study links gum disease with dementia  What Dentists Have to Say About Red-Light Therapy for Optimal Oral Health  If you enjoyed this episode, check these out! How risky is sharing a toothbrush? Should you be avoiding perfumes and fragrances? Do healthy people need lymphatic treatments? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Doing nothing: the benefits of boredom

With endless entertainment at your fingertips on your phone, how often do you really sit and do absolutely nothing?It turns out that even when you’re staring into the middle distance, your brain is firing away with activity.Norman and Tegan explore why giving your brain a break might be important for learning and creativity.References: The Journey of the Default Mode Network: Development, Function, and Impact on Mental Health  Default-mode brain dysfunction in mental disorders: A systematic review   Just think: The challenges of the disengaged mind - Science  The Importance of the Default Mode Network in Creativity—A Structural MRI Study   The Importance of the Default Mode Network in Creativity—A Structural MRI Study   People are increasingly bored in our digital age If you enjoyed this episode, check these out! What is the perfect nap duration? Can tattoos increase your risk of cancer? Why are people taping their mouths? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Should we all be taking fish oil?

How many times a week are you eating fish? What about oily fish, like salmon and tuna?Our dietary guidelines recommend the regular consumption of fish to potentially reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia and even macular degeneration.Norman and Tegan dig into the oily history of fish, and whether supplements can have the same effect.References: The Man with a Fish on His Back: In the late 19th century cod-liver oil was proclaimed the cure for many ailments "Fishing" for the origins of the "Eskimos and heart disease" story: facts or wishful thinking? Omega-3 Fatty Acids - National Institutes of Health The relationship between polyunsaturated fatty acids and inflammation: evidence from cohort and Mendelian randomization analyses Omega‐3 fatty acids for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease Regular use of fish oil supplements and course of cardiovascular diseases: prospective cohort study Associations Between Plasma Omega-3 and Fish Oil Use With Risk of Atrial Fibrillation in the UK Biobank Associations of fish oil supplementation with incident dementia: Evidence from the UK Biobank cohort study Omega-3 Fatty Acids for the Management of Osteoarthritis: A Narrative Review  Omega 3 fatty acids for preventing or slowing the progression of age‐related macular degeneration Omega-3 fatty acids for depression in adults Fish-Oil Supplementation and Cardiovascular Events in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis If you enjoyed this episode, check these out! Why is everyone suddenly talking about seed oils? Does magnesium work against muscle cramps? Why is the internet telling me to lower my cortisol? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Should you wait to swim after eating?

It’s so common to tell kids to wait an hour after eating to swim that many of us never question it.But what are the actual consequences of jumping straight back in the pool after you’ve had your lunch?Norman and Tegan tackle whether this advice is grounded in evidence, and discuss what you should actually avoid.References: Scouting for boys - 1908 The International Lifesaving Federation medical position statement 2014  Effect of food consumption on 200-yard freestyle swim performance The National Drowning Report 2025  Monday’s medical myth: wait 30 minutes after eating before you swim – the Conversation  If you enjoyed this episode, check these out! Does magnesium work against muscle cramps?  Why do you feel so tired after a big meal? Is being an Olympian bad for your health? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is retirement bad for you?

Last year Norman made the shocking statement that people shouldn’t retire because it’ll be bad for their brains.After an influx of requests, we’ve looked at the evidence not only when it comes to brain health, but heart health, metabolic health and mental wellbeing.Norman and Tegan unpack the complex story of what happens to your brain and body when you retire – depending on the job you had.References: How Retirement Was Invented: The earliest schemes for financial support in old age were pegged to life expectancy  Towards higher retirement incomes for Australians: a history of the Australian retirement income system since Federation  Impact of retirement transition on health, well-being and health behaviours: critical insights from an overview of reviews  Effect of retirement on cognitive function: the Whitehall II cohort study  Retirement or no Retirement? The Decision’s Effects on Cognitive Functioning, Well-Being, and Quality of Life Risk of Cognitive Declines With Retirement: Who Declines and Why? The Impact of Retirement on Cardiovascular Disease and Its Risk Factors: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies Retirement and mental health: Analysis of the Australian national survey of mental health and well-being The Effects of Retirement on Sense of Purpose in Life: Crisis or Opportunity? The Role of Meaning in the Retirement Transition: Scoping Review Life after work: how we can support retirees – R U OK?  If you enjoyed this episode, check these out! Is NAD+ a miracle anti-ageing supplement? At-home DNA tests — what can they tell you? How much protein do you REALLY need? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices