A preliminary study using data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) cohort found that flossing at least once a week is associated with a 22% lower risk of ischemic stroke, a 44% lower risk of cardioembolic stroke, and a 12% lower risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib). The findings were presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2025 in Los Angeles in February 2025. The study followed more than 6,000 participants over 25 years, during which 434 strokes and 1,291 AFib cases were recorded. The reduced risk held independently of brushing habits and routine dental visits. Researchers, led by Souvik Sen of Prisma Health Richland Hospital and the University of South Carolina, noted that flossing may reduce stroke risk by lowering oral infections and systemic inflammation. The AFib finding was unexpected, given that the mechanism connecting oral hygiene to irregular heartbeat is less established. The study has limitations: flossing frequency was self-reported via questionnaire at baseline, and oral hygiene behaviors were not tracked during the 25-year follow-up. For dental professionals, the findings reinforce the systemic relevance of routine flossing and support its recommendation as a low-cost preventive measure during patient consultations.