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If you want to lower your risk of having a stroke in your lifetime, you might want to start with flossing your teeth regularly.
According to a recent global health report “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 Dr. Souvik Sen, chair of the neurology department at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and the study’s lead author.
About 795,000 Americans will have a stroke this year according to the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Sen and his team found oral hygiene behavior such as flossing, brushing or regular dentist visits had the greatest impact on stroke prevention. Flossing teeth at least once a week has been linked to a 22% lower risk of ischemic stroke, 44% lower risk of cardioembolic stroke and 12% lower risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib).
Only 37% of Americans claim they floss once a week according to the National Institutes of Health. Nearly 32% of Americans said they don’t floss at all, while the same amount said they floss daily.
“Oral health behaviors are linked to inflammation and artery hardening,” Sen said. “Flossing may reduce stroke risk by lowering oral infections and inflammation and encouraging other healthy habits.”
Dr. Sen’s team studied more than 6,200 who answered a questionnaire about their flossing routine. Participants were followed for 25 years. During that time period, 434 had strokes and nearly 1,300 experienced AFib. In these cases, flossing led to a greater chance of stroke risk reduction. These results were independent of tooth brushing, routine dental visits and other oral hygiene habits.
“Many people have expressed that dental care is costly,” Sen lamented. “Flossing is a healthy habit that is easy to adopt, affordable and accessible everywhere.”
This research has not been peer-reviewed, but will be presented next week at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2025.
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