Just one minute a week could slash your risk of stroke by almost 50% - flossing

 

Or your doctor could have competently years ago created a protocol on all this that reduces stroke risk by 307%.  Put all these together and you'll never have a stroke,(sarcasm tag here).

Like maybe a 307%  stroke risk reduction from these 11 possibilities?  

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Just one minute a week could slash your risk of stroke by almost 50%

A new study has revealed that flossing once a week at a minimum can slash your risk of a stroke by 44%.

By Charlotte Smith

15:38, Mon, Mar 10, 2025 | UPDATED: 15:48, Mon, Mar 10, 2025

Inflammation can contribute to stroke risk (Image: Getty )

Recent research has uncovered that adopting a straightforward weekly habit could dramatically reduce your stroke risk by nearly 50%. This revelation comes after a new study at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2025 highlighted the 'lifesaving' advantages of regular teeth flossing.

The study revealed that flossing at least once a week, minimum, can significantly decrease the risk of stroke caused by a blood clot obstructing brain blood flow and irregular heart rhythms by up to 44%. The conference, held in Los Angeles, is a globally renowned gathering for researchers and clinicians committed to the science of stroke and brain health.

Despite the numerous benefits of flossing—not just for maintaining fresh breath or preventing cavities but also for overall wellness—reports indicate that around 33% of British adults never floss. Dental experts emphasise the importance of flossing as a key part of oral hygiene, alongside brushing twice daily and using mouthwash, even though many people neglect this step.

Poor dental health can significantly heighten your risk of stroke, heart disease, systemic inflammation, and even Alzheimer's disease. While flossing can be done as infrequently as once a week, it should ideally be a daily routine.

Flossing an adult set of teeth typically takes between one to two minutes, although the exact duration depends on how thorough you are, reports Surrey Live.

Regular dental flossing may reduce risk of stroke and irregular heartbeats, study finds

 This was known quite a while ago, didn't you competent? doctor prescribe this for you?

flossing (5 posts to March 2017)

Regular dental flossing may reduce risk of stroke and irregular heartbeats, study finds

 Flossing & heart health: New study links dental hygiene to lower stroke & AFib risk

08:09 PM, 8 Mar, 2025

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Caption: Floss for a Healthier Heart! A groundbreaking study presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2025 reveals that regular flossing can significantly lower the risk of stroke and atrial fibrillation (AFib) by reducing blood clots and inflammation. Don't underestimate the power of good oral hygiene—it might just save your life! (Image courtesy of Flossing Just Once a Week May Lower Stroke RiskLidiia Koval/Adobe Stock)

• Dental Flossing, Stroke Prevention, Oral Health, Heart Health, Atrial Fibrillation, Blood Clots, Gum Disease, Flossing Benefits, Cardiovascular Health, Dental Care

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A groundbreaking study presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2025 suggests that regular dental flossing may be crucial in reducing the risk of stroke caused by blood clots and irregular heartbeats, particularly atrial fibrillation (AFib). The research, part of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, analyzed data from over 6,000 participants and found compelling evidence linking oral hygiene to cardiovascular health.

Key Findings of the Study

1. Flossing at least once a week was associated with:

• 22% lower risk of ischemic stroke (caused by a blood clot blocking brain blood flow).
• 44% lower risk of cardioembolic stroke (blood clots traveling from the heart).
• 12% lower risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib).

2. Flossing's protective effects were independent of regular brushing and routine dental visits, indicating its unique role in oral and cardiovascular health.
Participants who flossed more frequently showed a more significant reduction in stroke risk, reinforcing the importance of this simple habit.

3. Flossing was also linked to a lower incidence of cavities and gum disease, further highlighting its overall health benefits.

Oral Health and Stroke Prevention: The Connection

The study, led by Dr. Souvik Sen, Chair of Neurology at Prisma Health Richland Hospital and the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, emphasizes that oral health behaviors directly influence inflammation and artery hardening, two significant factors contributing to strokes. Poor oral hygiene can lead to chronic gum disease, which has been linked to systemic inflammation and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.

"A recent global health report found that oral diseases affect 3.5 billion people worldwide, among the most widespread health conditions. Our study aimed to determine which oral hygiene habits—flossing, brushing, or regular dental visits—impact stroke prevention most," said Dr. Sen.

The long-term study, which began in 1987, tracked participants for 25 years, assessing their oral hygiene habits and overall health outcomes. Among the 6,258 participants (82% white adults, 18% black adults, average age 62 years, 55% women), those who flossed regularly showed an apparent reduction in stroke and AFib risk.

Flossing: A Simple Yet Effective Preventive Measure

Dr. Sen noted that many people avoid dental care due to high costs. Still, flossing is an easy, accessible, and affordable habit that can significantly improve oral and heart health. "Flossing helps reduce oral infections and inflammation, which may in turn lower stroke risk," he explained.

Experts believe that with further research, dental hygiene practices could be added to "Life’s Essential 8"—a set of key lifestyle factors identified by the American Heart Association for cardiovascular disease prevention. These factors include diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, sleep, body mass index, blood pressure, blood glucose, and lipids.

Study Limitations and Future Research

Despite its promising findings, the study had some limitations. The data was based on self-reported flossing habits, and there was no follow-up on oral hygiene behaviors over the 25 years. Future studies must establish a causal relationship between flossing and reduced stroke risk.

Takeaway: Prioritize Oral Hygiene for Overall Health

This study reinforces the growing evidence that oral health is closely linked to cardiovascular well-being. Regular flossing, brushing, and dental check-ups may serve as an essential preventive strategy against strokes and heart conditions.

7 things to know from the International Stroke Conference

 Like ABSOLUTELY NOTHING PRESENTED that even marginally gets survivors closer to 100% recovery! This is precisely why we have fucking failures of stroke associations DOING NOTHING to get survivors recovered. And why survivors need to be in charge!

7 things to know from the International Stroke Conference

Flossing was associated with a 44% lower risk of cardioembolic stroke, a 22% lower risk of ischemic stroke and a 12% lower risk of atrial fibrillation, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's annual International Stroke Conference.

Here are six other things to know from abstracts presented at the conference:

1. Integrating 30 minutes of progressive walking exercise into standard daily stroke rehabilitation improved quality of life and mobility of stroke patients at hospital discharge, compared to patients whose rehabilitation did not include 30 minutes of progressive walking. 
   
   
2. Researchers in Japan found a link between having increased levels of the common gut bacteria Streptococcus anginosus and an elevated risk of having a major cardiovascular event.
   
   
3. The risk of developing ischemic stroke among women taking the beta blocker drug Propranolol was 39% to 52% lower compared to women who were not taking the medication. The drug did not reduce stroke risk for men. 
   
   
4. Incorporating AI into electrocardiogram tests may help detect premature aging and cognitive decline.
   
   
5. Children who have experienced stroke may have an increased risk of developing anxiety, depression, headaches and stomach aches compared to children who have not experienced stroke.
   
   
6. Researchers in Germany found patients with brain bleeds had nearly seven times higher blood levels of the glial fibrillary acidic brain protein compared to patients whose strokes were caused by clots.

Flossing may reduce risk for stroke and irregular heart rhythm

 But are sonic water flossers better? Why don't you know?

Flossing may reduce risk for stroke and irregular heart rhythm

Flossing regularly may lower the risk of some strokes as well as a type of irregular heart rhythm that can increase stroke risk, new research suggests.

The findings, which will be presented Wednesday at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference in Los Angeles, show people who flossed at least once a week had a lower risk for strokes caused by blood clots coming from the heart and for an irregular heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation, or AFib, that can lead to a stroke. The findings are considered preliminary until the full results are published in a peer-reviewed journal.

"I wouldn't say dental flossing is the only thing you need to do to prevent a stroke, but our findings suggest it is one more thing to be added to a healthy lifestyle," said lead researcher Dr. Souvik Sen, a professor and chair of the neurology department at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

Sen said prior studies have shown a link between oral health, oral infection and damage to white matter and small blood vessels in the brain, as well as to a buildup of plaque in the arteries that supply blood to the brain.

The new study included 6,278 participants who had answered questions about home use of dental floss. About 65% of the participants reported flossing at least once a week.

Participants were followed for 25 years to see if they developed AFib or had an ischemic stroke, which occurs when a blood vessel to the brain is blocked. The researchers also looked at the risk of specific types of ischemic stroke: thrombotic strokes, caused by a blood clot in large arteries in the brain; cardioembolic strokes, caused by a clot traveling to the brain from the heart; and lacunar strokes, clots that occur in small arteries deep in the brain.

Compared to non-flossers, people who flossed experienced a 22% lower risk of an ischemic stroke, a 44% lower risk of a cardioembolic stroke, and a 12% lower risk of AFib, which developed in 20% of study participants. The analysis showed no link between flossing and thrombotic or lacunar strokes.

"Dental flossing reduces oral infections and gum disease, which are linked to inflammation," Sen said. Because inflammation can contribute to the risk for stroke, "it would make sense that if people flossed regularly, it might also reduce the risk of stroke and AFib."

Dr. Karen Furie, neurologist-in-chief at Brown University Health in Providence, Rhode Island, said she wasn't surprised that flossing might help reduce stroke risk.

"Flossing does help get debris out from between teeth that brushing alone might miss," said Furie, who also is chair of neurology at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. "Things that cause inflammation to the gums might be retained food or seeds, things that if not removed might inflame the gums and contribute to a systemic inflammatory state that might affect the health of the blood vessels."

But Furie, who was not involved in the study, was surprised the investigation found no association between flossing and thrombotic strokes, because of their link to inflammation and atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque in the arteries.

"I would have thought this type of stroke would have been the most reduced," she said. "It's possible that people who have thrombotic strokes, which you can anticipate because you can see evidence of atherosclerosis in the arteries, were being managed more vigorously than people who had cardioembolic strokes, which come out of the blue."

The lower stroke risk could stem from "something fundamentally different about people who floss," Furie said. "The 65% who floss may be people who follow the recommendations of their dentists and doctors and are attentive to the small details of health maintenance. They might be different than the 35% who don't floss, who might not be as compliant or might have other lifestyle or medical factors that reduce their compliance."

Managing blood pressure and cholesterol, maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active, eating a healthy diet and getting enough sleep are all important steps people can take to help prevent strokes, Furie said, but the new study "shows good dental health also matters. That is an important message and something people don't appreciate. Many neglect their oral hygiene, and hopefully this calls attention to it being an important aspect of total good health."

9 Surprising Benefits of Chewing Gum

If your doctor is incompetent and doesn't have you chewing gum immediately post stroke per # 6 below, I'd suggest you find a new doctor. We have to get rid of a lot of dead wood in stroke, starting with our doctors and therapists who are not up-to-date. 

 

Your doctor should have had a chewing gum protocol since March 2012. No protocol, call the president and ask when incompetence will be removed.  You do want better blood flow to the brain immediately post stroke don't you?

Chew Yourself a Better Brain March 2012 

The impact of mastication on cognition: evidence for intervention and the role of adult hippocampal neurogenesis April 2016

 But all the negatives here:

6 ways chewing gum is wrecking your health

The latest here:

9 Surprising Benefits of Chewing Gum

Did you know that chewing gum can not only benefit your teeth but also your overall health? Keep reading to learn about the nine surprising benefits of chewing gum.

9. It Keeps You Regular

Chewing gum can actually stimulate bowel movements. Yep, it’s true. It does so by increasing the production of gastric juices — all without having to digest any food! In fact, colorectal surgeons often prescribe chewing gum to help patients stimulate their digestive system after having major bowel surgery. So, the next time you’re feeling a bit constipated, reach for some gum instead of a laxative. It’s cheaper and safer than laxatives, plus you don’t have to worry about certain side effects, like the possibility of becoming dependent upon it for bowel movements.

8. It Combats Nausea

Source: Pixabay

We all know that mint soothes an upset stomach, so it makes sense that mint gum has the same effect on our tummies — be it nausea caused by motion sickness or morning sickness. But, you don’t have to stop at mint gum. Herbal gums, those containing ginger, for example, also combat nausea. In fact, research has shown that chewing gum is more effective at combating nausea than leading drugs. In one study, women who felt sick after surgery were given one of two things while recovering: a stick of Wrigley’s peppermint gum or the anti-nausea drug ondansetron. The results of the study showed that the gum was effective for 75 percent of the patients and fully resolved their problems within 10 minutes. The anti-nausea drug, on the other hand, was only effective for 37 percent of the patients.

7. It Gets Rid Of “Earworms”

Source: Pixabay

For those of you who may not have heard of an earworm, it’s when a song gets stuck in your head and you can’t stop singing it or thinking about it all day long. We’ve all been there at one time or another. But, most of us probably didn’t know that we could get rid of it by popping a stick of gum in our mouths. According to LittleThings.com, studies show that the part of the brain responsible for creating that earworm in the first place becomes distracted by the repetitive nature of chewing gum.

6. It Improves Memory

According to SelectHealth, Utah’s top-ranked health insurance plan, professor Andrew Sholey discovered that short-term memory could be improved by 35 percent by chewing a stick of gum. In fact, multiple studies have shown that chewing gum boosts mental performance. The reason is that chewing increases blood flow to the brain by as much as 25 to 40 percent. This increase in blood flow to the brain increases oxygen to the brain. And, this helps boost memory and other cognitive functions.
Note: Don’t get carried away with the chewing gum, though. Chewing on it for too long can actually decrease your short-term memory!

5. It Curbs Certain Addictions

Chewing gum can distract you from certain addictions, like cigarette cravings. In fact, there are certain gums that are made to help people quit smoking. These gums deliver a controlled amount of nicotine to a smoker’s system as a way to wean them off of cigarettes.
Another bad habit that chewing gum can break is overeating. According to LittleThings.com, gum helps to curve food cravings. “As long as you have something to chew on and concentrate on, you can resist the urge to relent,” LittleThings.com wrote on its website.

4. It Relieves Ear Pain During Flights

Ear pain on airplanes occurs due to changes in air pressure during takeoff and landing. And, if you’ve ever been on a plane, you know that ear-popping feeling can be very bothersome. Perhaps you’ve tried to remedy the situation by yawning or pinching your nose. But, there’s a simpler solution: popping a stick of gum into your mouth. The extra saliva produced when you chew gum allows you to swallow more, which can help to equalize the pressure in your ears.

3. It Decreases Depression

Source: Pexels

According to a 2011 study, chewing gum twice a day for two weeks reduces depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses. At the end of the 14-day period, study participants reported higher moods and lower fatigue levels. How is this possible? Here’s how: gum chewing significantly reduces the stress hormone cortisol because the act of chewing gum has a calming effect on most people.
DID YOU KNOW?
-Chewing gum is also a great way to deal with nervous habits that develop when you’re stressed, like nail biting and leg shaking.
-Monotonous chewing has somewhat of a meditative effect. “It’s sort of like an offshoot of deep breathing,” LittleThings.com wrote on its website.

2. It Keeps You Alert And Awake

Source: Pexels

Several studies have shown that chewing gum can increase alertness. That’s because the chewing movement not only increases blood flow, but it also stimulates nerves and parts of the brain associated with arousal. This makes you feel more alert, awake, and focused. So, the next time you have to pull an all-nighter, work late, or drive long distances, pop in a stick of gum. But, not just any gum. According to financial advice website Wise Bread, mint-flavored gum is especially helpful when trying to stay alert and awake.

1. It Prevents Tooth Decay

Source: Pixabay

Did you know that dentists recommend that their patients chew gum? Yep, it’s true. That’s because chewing gum stimulates your glands to produce more saliva. In fact, it stimulates saliva up to 10 times the resting rate. And, while saliva helps keep your mouth moist and comfortable, it also helps wash away food debris and remove bacteria that can cause tooth decay. But, it’s not just the chewing action that prevents tooth decay. Calcium, fluoride, and other nutrients that help strengthen tooth enamel are found in saliva. And, when you chew gum for 20 minutes after eating, it increases your salivary flow, which helps to prevent tooth decay. Just make sure you’re chomping on sugar-free gum, otherwise, it just defeats the purpose.
TIPS:
-Now, just because we said that chewing gum helps prevent tooth decay doesn’t mean it’s a substitute for brushing with toothpaste. In fact, we need toothpaste to fight cavities, plaque, tartar, gingivitis, and bad breath. Chewing gum, then, is something we can do in addition to brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist regularly.
-Look for gums containing xylitol, a low-calorie sugar substitute that supplies minerals to your teeth.

CONCLUSION

Who knew that chewing gum could be so good for you! Thanks for reading, and feel free to leave a comment below.

How to Live 35 Years Longer

I bet your doctor is not telling you about any of these. Do not do on your own, it is way too dangerous to do healthy things without your doctors knowledge.

How to Live 35 Years Longer

Overview

Life’s too short. You may not have control over the giant meteor that hits you in the head while you’re walking down the street. But assuming your unlucky lottery number doesn’t come up, you have a remarkable amount of control over how long you live. It turns out, lifestyle is more important than genetics in determining how long you’ll live, according to a study from the University of Gothenburg published in the Journal of Internal Medicine.

And luckily, the lifestyle changes that can score you more years can also score you more quality years, according to Eudene Harry, M.D., medical director for Oasis for Optimal Health wellness center in Orlando and author of "Live Younger in 8 Simple Steps."

To that end, we found eight healthy habits that can add 35 years to your retirement plan.

Get More Friends: Add 7 Years

Use a Standing Desk: Add 2 Years

s.

Floss: Add 6 Years

Eat a Cup of Raw Veggies a Day: Add 2 Years

Think Positive: Add 7 Years

Eat More Nuts: Add 3 Years

Exercise Regularly: Add 5 Years

 

Details at the link.

A Stanford University psychologist’s elegant three-step method for creating new habits

 Your therapists and doctors should be training you in this so your recovery will get closer to 100%. But I bet they assume you will know how to motivate yourself.
https://qz.com/877795/how-to-create-new-good-habits-according-to-stanford-psychologist-b-j-fogg/?

Written by

Lila MacLellan 

If you hate the monotony of running on the treadmill, but drag yourself to the cardio room daily, believing self-torture will eventually become a habit—that’s not heroic; it’s bad design.
According to B.J. Fogg, a psychologist and researcher at Stanford University who has studied behavior change for more than 20 years, doing something you don’t enjoy and subsequently failing to make it habitual is actually more detrimental to a mission for change than doing nothing at all. To create a real lifelong habit, the focus should be on training your brain to succeed at a small adjustments, then gaining confidence from that success, he argues. To do that, one needs to design behavior changes that are both easy to do and can be seamlessly slipped into your existing routine. Aim for automaticity.
As proof of this concept, Fogg points to the massive experiments for which we’ve all been the lab rats: the success of tech giants like Google, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, companies that have made fortunes testing—and figuring out—how to make millions of people use their products as automatic habits. This is Fogg’s area of expertise at Stanford, where he researches the ways computers (including mobile phones) can persuade humans, a field known as captology (from CAPT, “computers as persuasive technology,” a term Fogg coined). He also directs the Stanford Persuasive Tech Lab and runs “persuasion boot camps” for industry professionals.
To help people figure out how to make new behaviors they actually want as routine as turning to Google to search the web, he developed the Fogg Method, which references several psychological theories and is comprised of three key steps. The first is about identifying your specific desired outcome: Do you want to feel less stressed at work? Lose 10% of your bodyweight?
Next, identify the easy-win behaviors—he calls them “tiny habits”—that will put you on the path to that goal. (This requires introspection, because the going method for reducing stress may not be the behavior that will work for you, Fogg emphasized in an interview with NPR last year. Maybe you’d find short walks more meditative than meditating, for instance, or perhaps jogging with your retriever sounds more inviting than lacing up for a spin class.)
Finally, find a trigger—something that you already do as a habit—and graft the new habit onto it. That might mean putting out an apple on the counter every time you start the coffeemaker in the morning, Fogg explained to NPR. “Notice I didn’t say eat the apple,” he added. Let’s not get crazy.
In an online Tiny Habits program that Fogg provides for free, he sends followers sample recipes for commonly held goals related to lifestyle topics like productivity, relationship building, or health. One such recipe: “After I finish brushing my teeth, I will floss one tooth.”
You can see where this is going. Tiny Habits works by designing out the need to feel highly motivated to get a task done. Motivational levels come and go with the wind, but flossing a single tooth is achievable no matter the emotional weather. Besides, most days you’ll find yourself flossing a few other teeth because—well, why not? One day your goal might be to simply put on your sneakers the minute you start the dishwasher in the evening. Slowly, naturally, you’ll start walking, too, and adding other, more ambitious goals to your routine.
That said, there’s one other flourish necessary to making this hack work, says Linda Fogg-Phillips, B.J.’s sister, a former health coach who now runs the online program. After carrying through with a tiny step, participants in the online seminar are instructed to give themselves a celebratory pat on the back. That might be by saying, “Yay,” or “Victory,” for example.
The organizers admit it sounds goofy to celebrate because you managed to floss a single tooth, or do a push-up after using the bathroom (another popular recipe), but, Fogg-Phillips tells Quartz, “You’re rewriting your identity as someone who succeeds.”
More than 28,000 people have completed the five-day free program. In exit interviews, 80 to 90% of graduates say they feel confident about their ability to change their habits, according to Fogg-Phillips. More than two-thirds of their participants report they’ve also noticed other, unexpected improvements. One woman set a goal to pick up one piece of garbage or misplaced item from her car every time she parked in her garage, for example; she soon found she was straightening out her house, too.
According to Fogg-Phillips, the ripple effect is common, and psychologists aren’t sure exactly why it happens. One theory: Thanks to the small victories, says Fogg-Phillips, people might consciously or subconsciously break down other barriers in their lives.