Adults who brushed their teeth at least twice daily and consistently used dental floss or interdental brushes had a 23% lower risk of ischemic stroke than those with the poorest oral hygiene habits, according to a study published July 4 in the Journal of Dentistry.
Researchers at Seoul National University College of Medicine tracked 98,866 South Korean adults ages 40 and older using national health screening data, following them from 2011 through 2019. The team identified a dose-response relationship, with stroke risk declining as the frequency of flossing or interdental brush use increased. Among participants who had experienced tooth loss, regular use of these tools was tied to a 41% lower overall stroke risk, regardless of brushing frequency.
The findings add to a growing body of research on the oral-systemic link, suggesting that promoting interdental cleaning could serve as a simple, population-level approach to stroke prevention.
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