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 on 5-7 February 2025. The study drew on questionnaire data from more than 6,000 participants with an average age of 62 years, 55% of whom were women. Over a 25-year follow-up period, 434 participants experienced strokes and 1,291 were identified with AFib. The risk reduction associated with flossing held independent of brushing frequency and routine dental visits. Researchers propose that flossing may lower stroke risk by reducing oral infections and systemic inflammation, which are both linked to arterial hardening. The study's lead author, Souvik Sen of Prisma Health Richland Hospital and the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, noted that flossing is affordable and accessible. Study limitations include reliance on self-reported questionnaire data at baseline, with no follow-up data collected on flossing behavior during the 25-year observation period. An external commentator suggested dental health practices could eventually be considered for inclusion in the American Heart Association's 'Life's Essential 8' framework.