One way that can happen is via bacteria, which exist in everyone’s mouth but accumulate differently in folks who develop gum disease, much like how the balance of microbes in your gut can get out of whack, Ryan T. Demmer, PhD, MPH, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Minnesota, tells SELF. A disruption in this healthy mix can lead to gum irritation and bleeding, which may allow some of the bacteria to enter the bloodstream, he says.
From there, the germs can hitch a ride throughout your body, and there’s some evidence that they may even pass across the blood-brain barrier (a shield of cells that typically keep bad stuff out of the brain), Natalie Jeong, DMD, the chair of the periodontology department at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, tells SELF. Some of these microbes may be directly toxic and have the potential to interfere with cognitive function.
More broadly, these bacteria kick your immune system into overdrive, sparking the release of inflammatory chemicals that can also traverse your body. This inflammation is best known to cause a hardening of your blood vessels, which creates the blockages that trigger a heart attack or stroke, Dr. Sen explains. (It’s no wonder he and his team also found, in a different new study, that having gum disease and cavities is linked to an 86% increased risk of stroke—which can set you on a faster track to dementia too.) But at the same time, inflammation can also make it to your brain and cause the tiny vessels there to get brittle, Dr. Sen says, reducing blood flow and, in turn, triggering those spots of damage.
Some advice for keeping your teeth in good shape—and protecting your brain too
While some people may be genetically more likely to develop oral health issues than others, you also have a good deal of power to influence that outcome. You’ve heard it plenty of times before because it’s true: Brushing your teeth twice a day (for two minutes each time) and flossing daily, can help you prevent gum disease, as can going easy on sugary foods and avoiding smoking and smokeless tobacco.
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