Why taking care of your gums is a good idea to prevent Alzheimer’s A bacteria related to periodontitis could create inflammatory processes in the brain You probably haven’t heard of it.
It is called ‘Porphyromonas gingivalis’ and is a bacterium present in diseased gums, with periodontitis, capable of causing problems far beyond the mouth, such as in the brain, from where it could intervene in the origin of Alzheimer’s, according to a series of studies published in the scientific journal Science Advances.
How is that possible?
What can we do from an oral health point of view to reduce the likelihood of suffering from Alzheimer’s?
More and more studies show that this bacterium passes into the bloodstream and causes inflammatory processes in brain tissue that, ultimately, could end up causing Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Porphyromonas gingivalis is also the most relevant periodontal bacterium and the most frequent in periodontitis in Spain.
Although it does not cause Alzheimer’s on its own, its presence does substantially increase the risk of developing the disease and causes faster progression if you have it.
The good news The good news is that this study shows that there are some things that can be done to prevent or delay Alzheimer’s, such as maintaining good oral hygiene throughout life by using a toothbrush and flossing, in addition to going to the dentist regularly, which will help us detect periodontal disease early, when it is still gingivitis (a stage prior to periodontitis).
If one of our relatives has Alzheimer’s, it is essential that we monitor the health of their teeth and gums since progressive cognitive deterioration will limit their oral hygiene habits.
Don’t forget: Taking care of your gums could help you prevent or delay dementia.