This dental hygiene habit can lower the risk of a stroke, new research finds
Flossing your teeth just once a week could be more than just good for your smile – it might also help lower the risk of stroke caused by blood clots or irregular heartbeats, a preliminary study suggests.
The findings, set to be presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference in Los Angeles from February 5-7, 2025, could offer new insight into the surprising ways oral health impacts stroke risks and brain health.“A recent global health report revealed that oral diseases — such as untreated tooth decay and gum disease — affected 3.5 billion people in 2022, making them the most widespread health conditions,” said study lead author Souvik Sen, M.D., M.
S., of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia, South Carolina. “We aimed to determine which oral hygiene behavior — dental flossing, brushing or regular dentist visits — has the greatest impact on stroke prevention.”The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, one of the first large-scale investigations of its kind in the U.S., examined the at-home use of dental floss through a structured questionnaire involving over 6,000 participants.
Of those who reported flossing, 4,092 had never suffered a stroke, and 4,050 had not been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFib), an irregular heartbeat.Participants were also asked about various health factors, including high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking habits, body mass index, education levels, and their frequency of brushing and dentist visits.
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