REGULAR DENTAL FLOSSING MAY LOWER RISK OF STROKE FROM BLOOD CLOTS, IRREGULAR HEARTBEATS: PART I
According to a new study, people who regularly floss their teeth (one or more times per week) may lower their risk of stroke caused by a blood clot traveling from the heart and a stroke associated with an irregular heartbeat such as atrial fibrillation (AFib). The benefits of regular flossing may be independent of tooth brushing and other oral hygiene behaviors. Researchers suggest that flossing is a healthy habit that is affordable, easy to adopt and accessible everywhere.
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. The study aimed to determine which oral hygiene behavior — dental flossing, brushing or regular dentist visits — has the greatest impact on stroke prevention.
The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, one of the first large-scale investigations of this kind in the U.S., assessed the home use of dental floss through a structured questionnaire of more than 6,000 people. Among those who reported flossing, 4,092 had not experienced a stroke, and 4,050 had not been diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation (AFib).
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