New Research: This Toothbrushing Habit Could Help Prevent Stroke and Heart Disease

That extra two or three minutes to stand at the sink and floss don’t yield benefit only for your oral health, say heart experts. A research project touted by the American Heart Association reveals that it could help prevent two of the nation’s leading causes of death. Plus, say heart reseachers, you don’t need to turn into a flossing fanatic.

First presented in February at the annual American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference, preliminary data suggests flossing “at least once a week” could be help reduce the likelihood of experiencing either a stroke or atrial fibrillation, a heartbeat arrhythmia that’s considered a type of heart disease.

Data were collected from more than 6,000 respondents to a questionnaire, according to communications from the American Heart Association. The participants are part of a longitudinal study called Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC), which tracked their medical events over a 25-year period. The analysis found that regular flossing was connected with “a 22% lower risk of ischemic stroke, 44% lower risk of cardioembolic stroke (blood clots traveling from the heart) and 12% lower risk of AFib.”

The study’s lead author, Souvik Sen, MD, MS, MPH, explained why flossing is an attainable way to better your health. “Flossing may reduce stroke risk by lowering oral infections and inflammation and encouraging other healthy habits,” said Dr. Sen, a department chair at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. “Flossing is a healthy habit that is easy to adopt, affordable and accessible everywhere.”

According to a 2023 report from Delta Dental, a dental insurance company, only 31% of American adults report flossing daily. Parents may be better at making sure their littles pull out that waxy thread—55% of children are reported to floss daily.

The NIH credits the ARIC study with helping medical discoveries for conditions such as heart disease, and led to “evidence-based clinical practice guidelines” for coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and more. It is also noted as “the largest study of heart health in African Americans” on the ARIC website.

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