Dental thread at least once a week can be related to a lower risk of stroke caused by a blood clot that blocks the blood flow of the brain and beats of irregular beats, according to a preliminary study that will be presented in the International driving conference of the American stroke association. It is in Los Angeles, from February 5 to 7, 2025, and it is a world world meeting for researchers and doctors dedicated to the science of stroke and brain health.
“A recent report by Global Health revealed that oral diseases, such as unrelated tooth decay and gum disease, affected 3.5 billion people in 2022, which makes them the most widespread health conditions,” said the main author of the Souvik Sen, MD, MS, MPH, MPH study. , President of the Department of Neurology, Prisma Health Richland Hospital and the Faculty of Medicine of the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina. “Our goal is to determine which oral hygiene behavior (dental dental thread, brushing or regular dentist visits) has the greatest impact on the prevention of stroke.”
The risk study of atherosclerosis in the communities (Aric) study, one of the first large -scale research of this type in the United States, evaluated the domestic use of dental thread through a structured questionnaire of more than 6,000 people. Among those who reported tooth thread, 4,092 had not experienced a stroke, and 4,050 had not been diagnosed with an irregular beat known as atrial fibrillation (AFIB).
Participants were asked about their state regarding high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, body mass index, education, regular brushing and dentist visits. During the 25 years of follow -up, 434 participants were identified as strokes, of which 147 were larger brain clots, 97 were heart clots and 95 tightened the smallest arteries. In addition, it was observed that 1,291 participants had experienced AFIB.
The analysis found:
- The dental thread was associated with a 22% lower risk of ischemic stroke, a 44% lower risk of cardioembolic stroke (blood clots that travel from the heart) and a 12% lower risk of AFIB.
- The lowest associated risk was independent of regular brushing and dental routine visits or other oral hygiene behaviors.
- Increasing the frequency of dental thread had a greater probability of reducing the risk of stroke.
- The dental thread was also associated with a lower possibility of cavities and periodontal disease.
The researchers were surprised by the reduction of irregular heartbeat, or AFIB. AFIB is the most common form of irregular heart beats. It can cause stroke, heart failure or other cardiovascular complications. It is projected that more than 12 million people have AFIB in the United States by 2030, according to the statistics of heart disease and disease of 2025 of the American Heart Association.
“Oral health behaviors are related to inflammation and hardening of the artery. Dental thread can reduce the risk of stroke by reducing oral infections and inflammation and encouraging other healthy habits,” Sen said. “Many people have expressed that dental care is expensive. Dental thread is a healthy habit that is easy to adopt, affordable and accessible everywhere.”
The limitations of the study include that the data were based on responses to a questionnaire, and the follow -up of 25 years seems to have focused only on the results of the stroke and the heart. There was no follow -up on dental thread or other oral behaviors over the years, Sen said.
“This study offers more information on specific dental health behaviors that may be linked to the risks of stroke and reduction of potential risks. With more research, dental health practices could be incorporated into the risk factors of” life ” 8 “, which include diet, physical activity, exposure to nicotine, sleep, body mass index, blood pressure, blood glucose and blood lipids,” said Daniel T. Lackland, Dr.ph, FAHA, American Heart Association, Member of the Cerebrovascular Accident Council and Professor of Epidemiology and Director of the Division of Translational Neurosciences and Population Studies in the Department of Neurology at the University of Medicine of the South Carolina in Charleston. Lackland did not participate in this study.
Background of study and details:
- The study began in 1987 and is ongoing.
- Of the 6,258 participants, 82% were self -informed white adults and 18% of black adults. Its average age was 62 years and 55% were women.
- Potential participants were excluded if they had total loss of teeth, dental implants, heart disease, organ transplantation, artificial joints, implanted heart valve or stent or major surgery.