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Dental floss could eventually do much more than improve oral hygiene.

A new study led by Texas Tech University and the University of North Carolina suggests that the thin filament could eventually double as a vaccine mechanism .

In animal models, the researchers showed that dental floss can effectively release vaccines through the tissue between the teeth and gums, according to a press release.

SCIENTISTS CRACK THE CODE ON NEW VACCINE FOR DEADLY PLAGUE BACTERIA

In the study, the flossing technique triggered the production of antibodies in "mucosal surfaces," such as the lining of the nose and lungs , the release stated.

The findings were published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering.

"Mucosal surfaces are im

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