A toothbrush may be one of the easiest stroke prevention devices. Now, experts in a study found that gum disease and cavities may nearly double ischaemic stroke risk.
Ischaemic strokes, the most common type, occur when a blood clot or blockage restricts oxygen and nutrient flow to the brain.
In a long-term study, researchers from the University of South Carolina found that people with both gum disease and cavities face an 86 per cent higher risk of stroke compared with those with healthy mouths.
The research, which tracked nearly 6,000 adults over 20 years, also linked poor oral health to a 36 per cent greater likelihood of heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems in the study published in Neurology Open Access.
Also, adults who visited the dentist regularly were 81 per cent less likely to have both gum disease and cavities.
A tooth cavity is a hole in a tooth caused by decay from bacteria. And a gum disease is caused by a build-up of plaque, a sticky substance that contains bacteria on the teeth.
Study author Dr Souvik Sen said the findings suggest that improving oral health may be an important part of stroke prevention efforts.
According to Dr Sen, ‘This study reinforces that taking care of your teeth and gums isn’t just about your smile-it could help protect your brain. People showing signs of gum disease or cavities should seek treatment not only to preserve their teeth but also possibly to reduce stroke risk.’
The study followed 5,986 people with an average age of 63, none of whom had experienced a stroke at the start.
Each participant underwent a dental examination to determine whether they had gum disease, cavities, or both and was placed into one of three groups: healthy mouth, gum disease only, or gum disease with cavities.
Participants were tracked over two decades through phone interviews and medical records to identify those who later suffered a stroke.
Among 1,640 people with healthy mouths, 4 per cent had a stroke. In comparison, 7 per cent of those with gum disease alone and 10 per cent of those with both gum disease and cavities experienced one.
After adjusting for factors such as age, smoking and body mass index, the researchers found that people with both gum disease and cavities had an 86 per cent higher risk of stroke than those with healthy mouths. Those with gum disease alone had a 44 per cent greater risk.
Beyond stroke risk, the researchers found that participants with both gum disease and cavities had a 36 per cent higher likelihood of major cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, fatal heart disease or stroke.
Regular dental check-ups made a significant difference. Participants who visited the dentist routinely were 81 per cent less likely to have both conditions and had 29 per cent lower odds of gum disease alone.
The findings add to growing evidence that oral and brain health are closely connected.