{"id":64,"date":"2025-02-03T18:36:50","date_gmt":"2025-02-03T18:36:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drlauragramse.com\/blog\/?p=64"},"modified":"2025-03-27T18:39:37","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T18:39:37","slug":"can-brushing-teeth-prevent-alzheimers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drlauragramse.com\/blog\/2025\/02\/03\/can-brushing-teeth-prevent-alzheimers\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Remembering to Brush Your Teeth Help Prevent Alzheimer&#8217;s?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"283\" height=\"189\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drlauragramse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/image.png\" alt=\"Man brushing his teeth and smiling in his mirror \" class=\"wp-image-65\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>It might sound more than a little far-fetched, but it\u2019s true \u2013 researchers believe they\u2019ve found a link between certain oral bacteria and Alzheimer&#8217;s disease. Severe memory conditions like Alzheimer&#8217;s and Dementia are still very mysterious, so this discovery is kind of a big deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More research needs to be done to fully understand this connection, but scientists have some pretty solid theories about how oral bacteria contribute to cognitive decline. When all is said and done, remembering to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drlauragramse.com\/preventive-dentistry.html\">brush your teeth<\/a> could very well help prevent Alzheimer&#8217;s!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Discovering The Link<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s get right into the meat and potatoes: researchers found that memory loss patients had increased levels of gum disease bacteria. It\u2019s tempting to think of gum disease and other oral conditions as problems that only affect your mouth. However, it\u2019s important to remember that oral bacteria build up can spread to other parts of your body, like your brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is most likely how gum disease is able to impair memory, and scientists have a few ideas about the details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Chronic Inflammation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Without prompt treatment, gum disease can cause chronic inflammation in your gums, which puts a lot of stress on your immune system. Scientists think that an exhausted immune system trying to manage oral bacteria could accidentally attack non-threatening tissue instead. If that tissue is in your brain, the damage would likely impair your memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Gingipain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Normally, your brain is protected from harmful substances by a semi-permeable membrane called the blood brain barrier. However, if the barrier becomes compromised, it\u2019s easier for toxins and bacteria to break through and cause problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gingipain is a substance that can damage the blood brain barrier, and it happens to be produced by the bacteria involved in gum disease! It\u2019s possible that gum disease-related gingipain makes the brain more susceptible to attacks on memory tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Protein Deposits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Gum disease bacteria also increase the presence of misfolded amyloid-beta (A\u03b2) plaque in the brain. These extracellular protein deposits are strongly associated with Alzheimer\u2019s, and you might see their effects described as \u201cfibrils,\u201d \u201cfolds,\u201d or \u201cclusters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Basically, it seems these unwelcome visitors cling to and damage brain tissue, especially near important memory centers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Oral Hygiene Can Help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are plenty of reasons why it\u2019s best to keep gum disease bacteria out of your mouth, including its apparent connection to Alzheimer\u2019s. Consistent oral hygiene habits like twice-daily brushing, once daily flossing, and biannual visits to your dentist\u2019s are shown to significantly reduce your risk of gum disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Current research suggests many factors can contribute to Alzheimer\u2019s, and oral hygiene is one more thing you can do to protect your brain!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drlauragramse.com\/meet-dr-gramse.html\">Dr. Laura Gramse<\/a> has been serving Springfield and neighboring areas as a second-generation dentist for over 35 years. As a life-long learner, she\u2019s received advanced training in many types of dental treatments and is able to offer patients truly comprehensive care. If you\u2019re worried about gum disease or would like to schedule a checkup and cleaning, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drlauragramse.com\/contact.html\">contact<\/a> Dr. Gramse\u2019s office at 413-414-5224.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It might sound more than a little far-fetched, but it\u2019s true \u2013 researchers believe they\u2019ve found a link between certain oral bacteria and Alzheimer&#8217;s disease. Severe memory conditions like Alzheimer&#8217;s and Dementia are still very mysterious, so this discovery is kind of a big deal. More research needs to be done to fully understand this [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-64","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Can Brushing Your Teeth Prevent Alzheimer&#039;s? | Dr. Laura Gramse<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Studies reveal there could very well be a connection between oral bacteria and Alzheimer&#039;s. 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