The Gingivitis-Alzheimer’s Connection
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and includes the opinion of the author. Information is not meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness or disease. It is simply information found through experience and/or research. Always follow the directives of a licensed health professional. Neither Anita Bastian nor the publisher of the information takes any responsibility for actions readers take in regards to how they use or perceive the information. Readers are encouraged to do their own research.
We typically don’t think about the condition of our oral health impacting our brain’s health and its function. But the connection between oral health and brain function may surprise you.
There is one bacterium in particular that has gained a lot of attention in regards to its link to cognitive decline and periodontitis. It’s called Porphyromonas gingivalis or P. gingivalis for short. Just last year, a new discovery was made, and this discovery indicates that another bacterium may be implicated as well. If you’re curious, its name is Fusobacterium nucleatum.
Thankfully, we don’t need to be able to pronounce the names of these bacteria in order to learn about the problems they can cause. 😊 You can think about your mouth’s microbiome somewhat in the same way as you think about your gut’s microbiome. Throughout our body, there are millions of microscopic bacteria. When these bacteria are in balance, all is well. When there is an overgrowth or the presence of more invasive or disease-causing species, then it is problems can occur.
You can check out the seven articles below that show the link between problematic oral bacteria and Alzheimer’s disease.
According to this article recently published in Scientific American, “A wave of new studies suggests that Alzheimer’s may develop in tandem with periodontal disease.” Periodontal disease is also linked to cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Just under fifty-percent of Americans over the age of 30 have some form of periodontal disease, according to the CDC.
A UK research article published in 2016, states, “Our data showed that periodontitis is associated with an increase in cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s Disease.”
This study found that “tooth loss and periodontal disease predict poor cognitive function in older men.” The more teeth that needed to be pulled, the greater the risk of cognitive decline.
In June of 2019, Alzheimer’s News Today published an article sharing research that stated that “over 90% of Alzheimer’s patients show evidence of the bacteria in their brains upon autopsy, and people with Alzheimer’s who have active periodontal disease tend to have more severe disease. Additionally, some proteins, like amyloid-beta, that are characteristically dysregulated in Alzheimer’s are thought to have anti-microbial properties, and P. gingivalis has been shown to be capable of infecting brain cells.”
In 2019, this team of researchers found that, “Porphyromonas gingivalis, the keystone pathogen in chronic periodontitis, was identified in the brain of Alzheimer’s disease patients.”
In Portugal, a team of scientists published an article in the International Journal of Oral and Dental Health. The article states, “Some systemic pathologies might be associated with P. gingivalis, such as cardiovascular disease, neuronal degeneration, diabetes, arthritis. P. gingivalis was found in brain tissue and in CSF, providing definitive evidence of its migration from oral cavity to the brain.”
Researchers from the School of Dental Medicine published an article in Tufts Now in which they say, “Our lab is the first to find that Fusobacterium nucleatum can generate systemic inflammation and even infiltrate nervous system tissues and exacerbate the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.”
HOW CAN THIS BE?
- There is a direct connection from the teeth to the brain via nerves. One such nerve is the trigeminal nerve is a nerve which connects the teeth, jaw, and gums to our brain. Dental infections can quickly reach the brain if they are not dealt with completely and efficiently.
- There is a direct connection from our mouth to our gut. Our saliva, along with the food we consume, makes its way to our gut. Bacteria from our mouths can travel along with it and infect our GI tract. As we have talked about many times, there is a strong connection between the gut and the brain. The vagal nerve innervates the digestive system and the brain’s function.
- Bacteria can get in our bloodstream. As we know, the blood flows throughout our body, making any area, including the brain, susceptible to harboring bacteria.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
- Perform good daily oral hygiene. Brush and floss. I prefer using tooth powders like the one made by the company PurO3 or various fluoride-free brands that I find at our local co-op. Why fluoride-free? Check this out.
- I would not use any commercial mouthwashes. They contain many chemicals that can upset the microbiome of the mouth, making you more susceptible to harboring bad bacteria, like P. gingivalis. Instead, I would use homemade mouthwashes using distilled water and essential oils like peppermint or Thieves. If you don’t like making your own, you could try a rinse like the one pictured below.
- Remember to work on restoring the balance in your GI tract that influences your oral and brain health., since they are all interconnected. My favorite way to do this is through individualized programs that support the body’s natural ability to detox and rebalance.
As I was writing this article, I was reminded of what I had going on in my mouth when I was in my twenties. I had to have a surgery to graft skin from the roof of my mouth to fill in areas of major gum recession. The gums on my two lower front teeth just dropped away, leaving the roots exposed. While I am very thankful for the surgery to move tissue to fill this unsightly area, it was a very unpleasant experience! I was told it was likely that I would need to have this procedure done multiple times in my lifetime due to the poor health of my gums. Praise the Lord - I am happy to say that I never had to go through that again!
