Taking care of your teeth and gums might do more than protect your smile—it could also help protect your brain.
A new study has found that people who have both cavities and gum disease may face a higher risk of having a stroke.
The findings were published in Neurology Open Access, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Strokes happen when blood flow to the brain is blocked by a clot. This type of stroke, called an ischemic stroke, is the most common kind. It can lead to serious problems with speech, movement, memory, and even death.
Cavities are caused by bacteria that wear away the enamel on your teeth. They usually form from poor brushing, eating sugary foods, or sometimes genetics. Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is an infection in the gums and bone that support the teeth. If not treated, it can lead to tooth loss and other serious health problems.
In this study, researchers followed 5,986 adults, with an average age of 63, for 20 years. At the beginning of the study, none of them had experienced a stroke. Each person had a dental exam to check for cavities and gum disease. They were divided into three groups: healthy mouth, gum disease only, and both gum disease and cavities.
Over the two decades, 4% of people with healthy mouths had strokes. That number rose to 7% among those with gum disease and to 10% among people with both gum disease and cavities.
Even after taking other stroke risk factors into account—such as age, weight, and smoking—people with both gum disease and cavities still had an 86% higher risk of stroke. Those with only gum disease had a 44% higher risk.
But the connection doesn’t stop there. The researchers also looked at heart health. They found that people with poor oral health had a 36% greater chance of having a major heart problem—like a heart attack or dying from heart disease.
One major difference was routine dental care. People who visited the dentist regularly were 81% less likely to have both gum disease and cavities. They also had a 29% lower risk of having gum disease alone.
“This study reinforces the idea that taking care of your teeth and gums isn’t just about your smile,” said lead researcher Dr. Souvik Sen of the University of South Carolina. “It could help protect your brain, too.”
The researchers emphasized that the study shows a strong link, but it does not prove that cavities or gum disease directly cause strokes. One limitation is that oral health was measured only once, at the beginning of the study. The team did not track changes in dental health over time, and other health or lifestyle factors may have influenced the results.
Still, this research adds to growing evidence that good oral health is important for overall health. It suggests that brushing, flossing, and regular dentist visits could be powerful tools in reducing your risk of stroke and heart disease.
If you care about stroke, please read studies about how to eat to prevent stroke, and diets high in flavonoids could help reduce stroke risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and wild blueberries can benefit your heart and brain.
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