Flossing Helps Prevent Dementia & Strokes

We've all heard about the importance of healthy gut bacteria for overall health. But what about bacteria in the mouth?

Saliva helps to promote healthy mouth bacteria and good dental health in general. But dental plaque creates a space where unhealthy bacteria can also grow, causing a wide array of problems. And according to an increasing body of scientific literature, two of those problems are a significant increase in your risk of developing dementia and strokes.

A study on the impact of gum disease on heart health was presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2025. "We have known that gum disease and dental caries [tooth decay] are risk factors for stroke and heart attack. Flossing is already known to reduce the rate of heart attack,"said Souvik Sen, MD, MPH, chair of the Department of Neurology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, and author of the research. "Our research suggests that dental flossing can reduce the risk of stroke, and higher frequency of flossing leads to further reduction of stroke."

An earlier study on the impact of gum disease on dementia showed that increased dental plaque is associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer's changes on MRI. Porphyromonas gingivalis, the most common bacterial trigger of gum disease, is a major suspect for causing this. Other research published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s disease in 2020 showed that even moderate gum disease was associated with a 22% higher risk of Alzheimer's disease and 46% higher risk of dying from Alzheimer's.

The list of simple measures you can take to reduce your risk of developing dementia continues to grow. Flossing and brushing your teeth can now be added to that list. (Visit the dementia section of my blog to learn more.)

For information on what you can do to decrease dementia risk, feel free to email me at fatiguedoc@gmail.com and ask for the free dementia prevention information sheet.