Regular Flossing Can Lower Your Stroke Risk
DLHA Staff Writer
Regular flossing prevents stroke risk.
MONDAY, February 4, 2025 – Regular flossing is not only good for your gums, it also protects your brain from clot-induced stroke as well as a type of irregular heart rhythm that can increase stroke risk from clots (Atrial fibrillation or A-fib), says a new study.
The findings, which should be considered preliminary until published in a peer reviewed journal would be presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.
Flossing is the practice of using a thin filament or plastic wire directly as shown in the illustration above or on a device, to remove food and dental plagues from between the teeth in areas a toothbrush does not reach.
For the study, researchers analysed data from a total of 6,278 participants who had answered questions about home use of dental floss. About 65% of the participants reported flossing at least once a week.
Participants were followed for 25 years to see if they had an ischemic stroke, which occurs when a blood vessel to the brain is blocked or had A-fib that can also increase stroke risk from blood clots dislodged from the heart and blocking vessels of the brain.
The researchers also looked at the risk of specific types of ischemic stroke: thrombotic strokes, caused by a blood clot in large arteries in the brain; cardioembolic strokes, caused by a clot traveling to the brain from the heart; and lacunar strokes, clots that occur in small arteries deep in the brain.
During 25 years of follow-up, 434 participants suffered a stroke and nearly 1,300 developed atrial fibrillation.
The study found that regular flossing (at least once a week) lowered people’s stroke risk, regardless of whether they regularly brushed their teeth or routinely visited a dentist, results show.
Flossing also was associated with a lower risk of cavities and gum disease.
Specifically, flossing was associated with:
Researchers were surprised by the reduction in A-fib linked to flossing. A-fib increases a person’s risk of stroke, because it allows blood to pool and clot in the upper chambers of the heart before it is dislodged into vessels of the brain to cause a stroke.
No link was however found between flossing and other types of strokes (i.e., thrombotic or lacunar strokes).
“This study offers insights into the specific dental health behaviors that may be linked to stroke risks and potential risk reduction,” Daniel Lackland, a professor of epidemiology with the Medical University of South Carolina, said in a news release. Lackland was not involved with the study.
A yet unpublished study presented at a meeting of the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference in Los Angeles recently has suggested an association between regular flossing and reduction in the risk of stroke due to blood clots in the vessels of the brain. It also showed an association between flossing and a reduction in a type of irregular heart rhythm (called A-fib). A-fib increases the risk of blood clots forming in the chambers of the heart and then dislodging to the brain to cause a stroke.
Regular flossing may well be an essential dental health practice that everyone should incorporate in their daily routine to reduce the risk of stroke, which is a serious and life-threatening condition.
Published: February 5, 2025
© 2025. Datelinehealth Africa Inc. All rights reserved.
Permission is freely given to copy, use and share content for non-commercial purposes, without alteration or modification and subject to source attribution.
DATELINEHEALTH AFRICA INC., is a digital publisher for informational and educational purposes and does not offer personal medical care and advice. If you have a medical problem needing routine or emergency attention, call your doctor or local emergency services immediately, or visit the nearest emergency room or the nearest hospital. You should consult your professional healthcare provider before starting any nutrition, diet, exercise, fitness, medical or wellness program mentioned or referenced in the DatelinehealthAfrica website. Click here for more disclaimer notice.
