Can better flossing prevent stroke?

If you don’t floss as well or as often as you should, you’re not alone. According to research published in the National Library of Medicine, only about 40% of Americans say they floss every day. Twenty percent admit to never flossing at all. If you need a reason to pick up the floss and get to work, vascular neurologist Souvik Sen, MD, has a great one: Did you know better flossing may prevent stroke?

How dental health and strokes are connected

“Roughly 25% of strokes are due to atherosclerosis, which is a ‘hardening’ of the blood vessels, in the neck and within the brain,” Said Dr. Sen. “Gum disease is a chronic bacterial infection that can cause inflammation. Bacteria from infected gums travels into blood vessels, causing them to inflame further.”

The amount of blood able to easily pass through, carrying oxygen throughout the body to the brain, becomes smaller as the vessels grow narrow and more blocked. Eventually, this can cause a disruption in the blood flow reaching parts of the brain.

“Gum disease has been linked to heart attacks in this same way,” added Dr. Sen. “Along with significant links to irregular heart rhythm, or atrial fibrillation, which is also associated with stroke. It’s clear that our dental health affects far, far more than just our teeth.”

Consistent dental care is only part of the solution

“Ideally, you should visit your dentist twice a year for a regular cleaning and checkup,” said Dr. Sen. “But you can’t rely on those twice-yearly dental visits to provide all the care you need for great dental and gum health. You’ll need to maintain the same kind of consistent care at home, too.”

To maintain gum health, brush your teeth twice daily using fluoride toothpaste. You’ll need to floss once per day, using strong dental floss to get between your teeth. Yes, even your molars!

Tools like water flossers can be helpful to ensure more complete flossing, but they can’t fully replace the benefits of regular flossing. If you struggle to handle floss, try the waxed version, which is easier on your fingers.

Alongside dental visits and daily brushing and flossing, eating a well-balanced diet with plenty of nutrients can help make sure your body has the vitamins and minerals it needs to maintain strong teeth and resist inflammation.

What are the signs of gum disease to watch out for?

“Gum disease can be difficult to spot in the early days, since you may only notice that your gums feel a little sensitive,” said Dr. Sen. “But as the disease progresses, there are other symptoms that are a sign it’s time to speak to a dentist on what to do next.”

Signs of gum disease include:

• Bleeding when you brush your teeth
• Red or swollen gums
• Receding gums
• Loose teeth

Good flossing leads to better teeth – and better overall health

“I was an author of a study published in the journal Stroke on this exact topic,” said Dr. Sen. “Our study followed 6,200 participants over years and found that those who flossed regularly had significantly lower rates of ischemic stroke compared to those who didn’t floss,”

The study found that regular dental flossing was associated with a 23% lower risk of ischemic stroke and a 40% reduction in risk for cardioembolic stroke, a type of stroke caused by blood clots that travel from the heart to the brain. Rates of AFib, or atrial fibrillation, were also lower in those who regularly flossed.

“These findings held up even after accounting for other healthy behaviors such as regular toothbrushing and dental care visits, suggesting flossing provides an independent protective benefit all its own,” said Dr. Sen. “We believe the benefit centers around the way that flossing reduces the bacterial load on gums and teeth and cuts down on the systemic inflammation caused by gum disease.”

What else can you do to lower your stroke risk?

While good oral hygiene is an important and often overlooked piece of the puzzle, stroke prevention should be a whole-body goal.

“Keeping blood pressure well controlled is one of the single most impactful steps a person can take to lessen their risk of stroke,” said Dr. Sen. “Hypertension is the leading modifiable risk factor for stroke. Managing diabetes and cholesterol levels is equally important, since both conditions accelerate hardening of blood vessels and arteries and increase the likelihood of a blockage in the brain’s blood supply, leading to stroke.”

If you currently smoke or utilize tobacco products, there’s no better time to quit than right here and now. Use of tobacco products is strongly linked with gum disease.

Taken together, steps like controlling blood pressure, diabetes or cholesterol, avoiding or quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet (like the Mediterranean diet) and maintaining good oral hygiene form a powerful strategy for lowering your risk of stroke.

Know the signs of stroke and potentially save a life

 “Stroke treatments, including clot-busting medication and clot-retrieval, are very dependent on time,” said Dr. Sen. “Knowing the signs of stroke to watch for and also understanding that the faster you receive emergency care, the better your chances can help you save a life.”

Think BE FAST:

• B – Balance off, dizzy or losing coordination
• E – Eyes blurred, especially on one side
• F – Face drooping, especially on one side but drooping can happen on both
• A – Arm weakness on one or both sides
• S – Speech difficulty, slurring words or confusion
• T – Time to call 911