Flossing and stroke prevention: an overlooked public health opportunity
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Dear editor,
Maintaining good oral hygiene is well-documented to play a vital role in preventing oral diseases.1 However, the connection extends far beyond the mouth. Research increasingly links oral health to the development and progression of systemic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and Alzheimer's disease.2 Therefore, oral health is not merely about healthy teeth and gums; it is an integral component of overall well-being and disease prevention.
One of the biggest concerns after COVID-19 is strokes, which have been rapidly increasing in recent times and are a leading cause of disability and mortality globally.3 While medical advancements have provided various strategies to mitigate the risk of ischemic stroke,4 a recent study conducted by researchers in the United States highlights a remarkably simple preventative measure: flossing.5
The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study examined the relationship between flossing, incident stroke, stroke subtypes, and atrial fibrillation in over 6,000 dentate participants who were monitored for a period of over 25 years. Approximately 65% of the participants reported flossing at least once a week. The analysis indicated that regular flossing, compared to non-flossers, was associated with a 22% reduction in the risk of ischemic stroke, a 44% reduction in the risk of cardioembolic stroke, and a 12% reduction in the risk of atrial fibrillation. These findings suggest that flossing at least once a week is linked to a decreased risk of stroke due to blood clots and irregular heart rhythms.5
This research highlights how crucial good oral hygiene is for our overall health and indicates that something as simple and inexpensive as regular flossing could be a game-changer in preventing strokes, with the potential to save countless lives, reinforcing the vital link between a healthy mouth and a healthy body.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Work published in KMUJ is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online
(e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
References
1. Löe H. Oral hygiene in the prevention of caries and periodontal disease. Int Dent J 2000;50(3):129-39. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1875-595X.2000.tb00553.x
2. D'Aiuto F, Suvan J, Siripaiboonpong N, Gatzoulis MA, D'Aiuto F. The root of the matter: Linking oral health to chronic diseases prevention. Int J Cardiol Congenit Heart Dis 2025;19:100574. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcchd.2025.100574
3. Stroke Association. Information for stroke survivors: Coronavirus. (2025). Accessed on: [October 18, 2025]. Available from URL: https://www.stroke.org.uk/stroke/support/information-coronavirus-stroke-survivors
4. Robbins BT, Howington GT, Swafford K, Zummer J, Woolum JA. Advancements in the management of acute ischemic stroke: a narrative review. J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open 2023;4(1):e12896. https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.12896
5. Sen S, Marchesan J, Wood S, Titus R, Moss K, Alonso A, et al. Abstract 19: Dental flossing may lower the risk for incident ischemic stroke, cardioembolic stroke subtype and AF. Stroke 2025;56(Suppl_1):A19. https://doi.org/10.1161/str.56.suppl_1.19