Dental floss is an unexpected ally against strokes

Dental floss is an unexpected ally against strokes

At the American Stroke Association's 2025 International Stroke Conference, Dr. Souvik Sen, chair of neurology at the University of South Carolina, noted that "oral disease affects 3.5 billion people worldwide, making it one of the most prevalent health problems."

Dental infections are real gateways for bacteria to enter the heart. Toxins from untreated cavities or diseased gums can migrate into the bloodstream and attach themselves to the heart, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Good oral hygiene is therefore essential. Proof of this is this study presented by Souvik Sen. For this work, his team sought to determine which oral hygiene behavior (flossing, brushing teeth or regular visits to the dentist) had the greatest impact on preventing strokes. This research was conducted on more than 6,000 participants for 25 years. During the follow-up, more than 400 participants suffered a stroke and nearly 1,300 suffered from atrial fibrillation (or atrial fibrillation, the most common rhythm disorder).

A significant impact on heart health

The scientists then observed that flossing was associated with a lower risk of ischemic stroke (-22%) and atrial fibrillation (-12%).

As expected, they confirm that the use of this floss reduces the risk of cavities and periodontal disease. This daily cleaning helps eliminate the daily accumulation of bacterial plaque and food between the teeth. In short, where the brush cannot reach.

"This study provides valuable information on oral health habits and cardiovascular risk," the authors note. "These practices could potentially be integrated into the '8 essential risk factors of life,' which include diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, sleep, body mass index, blood pressure, blood glucose, and blood lipids."

 

Source: https://destinationsante.com/contre-les-avc-le-fil-dentaire-est-un-allie-inattendu.html