TV doctor Amir Khan has said that a simple action done just once a week could drastically reduce your risk of having a stroke. Dr Khan, speaking on ITV's Lorraine on Friday, said it centred around teeth-cleaning habits. Dr Khan, who is also a full-time NHS GP, said there was strong evidence for it. He explained that it had come from the American Stroke Association, which said that flossing even just once a week could reduce the risk of a clot type of stroke by 22% - more than a fifth.

He continued: "Now, we've kind of known about this for a while, but it's good to have more evidence. Now, what we know is people who have gum disease, inflamed gums, bacteria in their gums, that can cause inflammation in that area. "And a little bit of inflammation is okay, but long-term inflammation can increase your stress hormones, cortisol, all adrenaline, all of that can put your blood pressure up and increase a risk of a stroke the bacteria in your gum there as well can get into your bloodstream through inflamed gums where they can contribute to more inflammation, but also atherosclerosis - that's hardening of the blood vessels and the build-up of plaques.

"And we also know people who have gum disease are more likely to eat sugary foods, ultra-processed foods, which contribute to heart attacks and strokes, so brush teeth twice a day - two minutes each, floss once a day, stop smoking, manage alcohol levels and a good tip is eat high-fibre food, particularly hard vegetables like carrots they are like a natural toothbrush through the day as you eat them.".

The NHS describes a stroke as "when blood stops flowing to a part of your brain. It can affect things like speech and movement and take a long time to recover. A stroke needs urgent medical help in hospital because it can be life-threatening". The main symptoms of a stroke can happen suddenly. They may include:. The easiest way to remember these symptoms is the word FAST. This stands for: face, arms, speech and time to call 999.

There are other signs that you or someone else is having a stroke. These include:. Symptoms of a stroke can sometimes stop after a short time, so you may think you're OK. Even if this happens, get medical help straight away. A stroke is more likely to happen if you're older, but it can happen at any age. The NHS says to call now if:. Do not drive yourself to A&E. The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do.