Dental hygiene keeps your teeth healthy. It can also help your brain. New research says flossing your teeth could reduce the risk of a stroke. A stroke happens when blood cannot get to the brain, or when the brain fills with blood. Around 15 million people worldwide have a stroke each year. Of these, about 5 million die. A doctor said tooth decay and gum disease affect around 3.5 billion people. They are the most common health problems.

The doctor looked into the effects of flossing on our health. His team found that flossing teeth at least once a week could lower the risk of a stroke by 44 per cent. He said flossing could reduce the risk of stroke "by reducing oral infections". He added that flossing was a cheap and easy way of caring for your teeth. He said: "Many people have said that dental care is costly. Flossing is a healthy habit." He said it was easy and cheap.