NEW YORK POST – About 795,000 Americans will have a stroke this year, but new research suggests that a common, healthy habit may reduce the risk of certain types of stroke.
“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 Dr. Souvik Sen.
“We aimed to determine which oral hygiene behavior — dental flossing, brushing or regular dentist visits — has the greatest impact on stroke prevention,” added Sen, chair of the neurology department at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine.
Sen’s team linked flossing teeth at least once a week to a 22% lower risk of ischemic stroke, 44% lower risk of cardioembolic stroke and 12% lower risk of AFib.
Most strokes are ischemic — they occur when there’s a blockage in an artery or inadequate blood flow through that artery that causes an area of the brain to become damaged.
A cardioembolic stroke happens when a blood clot travels from the heart to the brain, blocking blood flow to a part of the brain.
And atrial fibrillation, also known as AFib, describes a heartbeat that’s too slow, too fast or irregular in some other way. It can lead to stroke, heart failure or other complications.
AFib affects more than 5 million American adults — that number is expected to grow to more than 12 million by 2030, according to the American Heart Association.
“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.”
“Many people have expressed that dental care is costly,” he continued. “Flossing is a healthy habit that is easy to adopt, affordable and accessible everywhere” …
PHOTO: Marco Verch, CC-BY 2.0
