A floss start -- to heart health
Your mouth is a window to your well-being. It contains its own microbiome that helps maintain healthy digestion and fights off infection. When your gums and teeth are healthy, it also reduces your chances for Type 2 diabetes and, according to a new study, two types of strokes!
The study, published in Stroke, followed 6,200 participants for 25 years and revealed that folks who floss lower their risk for strokes and for an irregular heartbeat -- A-Fib -- which can lead to a stroke. Compared to non-flossers (you know who you are!), folks who flossed even once a week reduced their risk of stroke caused by a clot formed anywhere in the body by 22%, the risk of a stroke caused by a clot that originates in the heart and then blocks blood flow to the brain by 44%, and a clot related to an irregular heartbeat by 12%.
Flossing has this remarkable power because it reduces inflammation in the gums and helps prevent tooth decay, both of which, if unchecked, increase inflammation in your whole body. That body-wide inflammation then makes it more likely that you'll have plaque-lined blood vessels and elevated LDL cholesterol.
We recommend daily flossing, avoiding flosses that contain hormone-disrupting PFAs (AKA forever chemicals) to increase glide. Consumer Reports says products called "silk floss" are the best options. And Dr. Mike likes a forced-water flosser that his dental hygienist says works better than floss. For more info on oral health, check out "8 Tips for Keeping Your Teeth Clean Naturally" at iHerb.com/blog.
Dr. Mike Roizen is the founder of www.longevityplaybook.com, and Dr. Mehmet Oz is global advisor to www.iHerb.com, the world's leading online health store. Roizen and Oz are chief wellness officer emeritus at Cleveland Clinic and professor emeritus at Columbia University, respectively. Together they have written 11 New York Times bestsellers (four No. 1's).
(c)2025 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2025 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Comments