A recent preliminary study suggests that if you add flossing to your daily routine at least once a week, the lifetime risk of cardioembolic stroke, ischemic stroke, and atrial fibrillation can be lowered.
Stroke is a condition that occurs when there is a lack of proper blood flow to the brain caused by a rupture or block in the arteries. This condition affects almost 795,000 people in the US. If the blood flow is stopped for a long time, then it may result in a coma or death. Atrial fibrillation is the condition in which the individual has an abnormal heart rhythm. It is estimated that over 12 million people in the US may suffer from atrial fibrillation by 2030.
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. We aimed to determine which oral hygiene behavior—dental flossing, brushing, or regular dental visits—has the greatest impact on stroke prevention.Dr. Souvik Sen, Chair of the Department of Neurology, University of South Carolina-School of Medicine
This study was led by Dr. Souvik Sen from the University of South Carolina-School of Medicine and will be presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference happening from the 5th to 7th of February. The key findings include reduced risk of ischemic stroke by 22%, cardioembolic stroke by 44%, and atrial fibrillation by 12% with the help of flossing.
Among the 6,278 participants who were followed up for 25 years, about 65% of them flossed at least once a week. These findings, which were independent of any other oral hygiene behaviors, have an increased chance of reducing stroke when the frequency of flossing was increased.
Surprisingly, only 10-30% of adults use dental floss regularly, mainly because many of them find flossing to be a challenging task. [1] But researchers say this habit is not only easy to incorporate but also affordable too.
Dr. Souvik also said that oral health behaviors are linked to inflammation and artery hardening. Flossing alone will not prevent strokes, but it can lower the risk of oral infections and heart diseases as well as promote overall health. Regular flossing prevents oral infection and gum disease, thereby reducing any inflammation in the body.
References:
1. Ng, Ethan, and Lum Peng Lim. "An overview of different interdental cleaning aids and their effectiveness." Dentistry journal 7, no. 2 (2019): 56. Accessed on February 04, 2025.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Dr. Nethra Suryanarayanan/SSK)