Dental hygiene keeps your teeth and gums healthy. It can also help your brain. New research from the USA suggests that flossing your teeth could reduce the risk of having a stroke. A stroke happens when blood cannot get to the brain, or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Around 15 million people worldwide have a stroke each year. Of these, about 5 million die. Researcher Dr Souvik Sen said oral diseases, such as tooth decay and gum disease, affect around 3.5 billion people. He said these diseases are the most common health problems.

Dr Sen looked into the effects of flossing on our health. He wanted to know if dental flossing, brushing or regular dentist visits helped to cut the risk of a stroke The team found that flossing teeth at least once a week could lower the risk of a stroke by up to 44 per cent. Dr Sen 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. It is easy and affordable."