Flossing: The secret to a sparkling smile—and a healthy heart?

Be honest—do you dread the dentist? Personally, I look forward to it.

Maybe it’s because I’ve never had a cavity—or because I love that fresh, clean feeling.

Of course, I also love to floss. Honestly, I might even be addicted to it!

Could that be the secret to a sparkling smile—and a healthy heart?

A low bar with a BIG benefit

New research suggests regular flossing may lower your risk of stroke and atrial fibrillation (AF).

Researchers analyzed data from just under 6,300 participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Subjects were 62 years old on average, with no history of stroke or AF.

The researchers administered a structured questionnaire on oral hygiene, which included if and how often participants flossed.

“Regular” flossing meant just once a week. (That’s a pretty low bar considering the potential health benefits!)

Nearly 4,100 subjects reported being regular flossers—whereas just under 2,200 did not. More women flossed than men. (Come on, guys… don’t let them beat us at everything!)

Ultimately, researchers determined that regular flossers had fewer cardiovascular risk factors.

For example, when comparing comorbidities of flossers versus non-flossers, 31.5 percent of flossers had high blood pressure and 11.7 percent had diabetes—compared to 36.3 percent and 16.1 percent, respectively.

Those who flossed also had significantly higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, the “good” cholesterol—and significantly lower rates of periodontal disease and dental cavities.

But that’s not all…

Impressive risk reduction

Researchers determined that flossing reduced risk for the following heart events:

• Ischemic stroke by 21 percent
• Cardioembolic stroke by 44 percent
• AF by 12 percent

That’s no small feat! And no drug on the market comes close to that level of protection.

Best of all, you seem to gain this protection regardless of how often you see the dentist. How great is that?

Even though this is a preliminary study, there’s no harm in seeing how flossing might help safeguard your heart.

It’s a simple, affordable habit you can start TODAY.

It helps remove food particles, plaque, and bacteria stuck between your teeth and along the gumline that your toothbrush may miss. When left unchecked, this can lead to gum disease and tooth decay, both of which promote systemic inflammation.

And of course, inflammation is the root cause of most diseases. It’s also linked to hardened arteries (atherosclerosis)—a key driver of heart attacks. And now, research suggests it may also increase your risk of stroke and AF!

I can’t tell you how many people come to me with the simple complaint that they just feel “inflamed.” I’ll still provide advice on diet, exercise, and nutritional supplements—but now, I’ll be asking about their flossing habits, too. It really does seem to be that important!

In your quest to become a regular flosser, I just have one request: Choose untreated picks or floss made from organic silk or beeswax. Electric water flossers are another healthy option. (Stay away from floss made from toxic plastic.)

Until next time,

Dr. Fred

P.S. To learn additional healthy habits you can adopt to help prevent and reverse some of America’s top killers—including heart attack and stroke—check out my Ultimate Heart-Protection Protocol. Click here to learn more!

Source:

“Regular Flossing Tied to Reduced Ischemic Stroke Risk.” Medscape, 02/05/2025. (medscape.com/viewarticle/regular-flossing-tied-reduced-ischemic-stroke-risk-2025a10002t7)