Regular Use Of Benang Gigi Can Lower The Risk Of Stroke

JAKARTA - Regular use of dental threads can apparently help reduce the risk of stroke. This has been proven through a recent study presented at the 2025 American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference in Los Angeles.

In the study, the researchers found the habit of regularly cleaning teeth with dental threads could play a role in reducing the risk of stroke.

Dr. Souvik Sen, the lead author of this study, revealed that the main goal of the study is to identify oral hygiene habits such as the use of dental threads, brushing teeth, or regular visits to dentists who have the greatest influence in preventing stroke.

In a report quoted from Medical Daily, he explained that in 2022, untreated tooth and gum disease has affected about 3.5 billion people worldwide.

Research results show that routine use of dental threads can reduce the risk of stroke of stroke caused by blood clots by up to 22 percent. In addition, the risk of cardioembolic stroke, triggered by blood clots from the heart, can be reduced by 44 percent, while the possibility of atrium fibrillation decreases by 12 percent.

This positive effect was found independently, without being influenced by the habit of brushing teeth or other oral hygiene practices.

The study is based on data from the Aterosclerosis Risk Study in Communities (ARIC), which is the first large-scale study in the United States to specifically review the relationship between the use of dental threads and the risk of stroke.

In this study, more than 6,000 participants were surveyed about their habit of using dental threads, then their health condition was monitored for 25 years.

As quoted by ANTARA, a group that regularly uses dental threads, as many as 4,092 people have never had a stroke, while 4,050 people do not have a history of atrium fibrillation, namely heart rhythm disorders that are common.

During the research period, 434 cases of stroke were recorded with various causes, such as blockage of arteries and blood clots related to the heart, as well as 1,291 cases of atrium fibrillation.

Further analysis reveals the more often a person uses dental threads, the lower the chance they have a stroke. In addition, this habit is also related to lowering the risk of cavities and gum disease.

Dr. Sen added that oral health is closely related to inflammation and hardening of arteries. Regular use of dental threads can help reduce the risk of stroke by preventing infection and inflammation of the mouth and encouraging other healthy lifestyles.

"Many people think dental treatment is expensive. However, using dental threads is a simple habit that is easy to do, affordable, and accessible to anyone," he said.

These findings further emphasize that maintaining oral hygiene is not only important for the health of teeth and gums, but also has an overall impact on the health of the body, including in preventing the risk of serious diseases such as stroke.