A study published in January 2019 suggests that Alzheimer’s
disease may be caused by the same type of bacteria that causes advanced gum
disease. This type of bacteria is commonly known as Porphyromonas gingivalis
also known as P. gingivalis.
Connection between P. gingivalis and neurodegeneration
Researchers have been able to find that P. gingivalis
basically produces toxic enzymes which can be called gingipains. These enzymes
can be quite troublesome for the brain. P. gingivalis DNA has also been found
in the Alzheimer’s brains, according to a study.
And since it is the fact that P. gingivalis is the major
culprit causing gum disease, it would come as no surprise that this type of
bacteria can do the real damage to any part of the body it invades.
And so, you need to make sure that you take good care of
your mouth because mouth is just like an entry point of the body. If you are
not taking good care of your oral health, the P. gingivalis will not only damage
your gums but it will also start producing problems for other systems of your
body.
While the research in this matter is not complete yet,
researchers believe that it is the first piece of puzzle that they have solved.
The mouth-body connection
It would be worth discussing the mouth-body connection here.
It is a no-brainer that everything we put in our bodies goes through the mouth.
And it is the same area which lies outside of the immune system’s jurisdiction.
This is the reason that bacteria and other germs can remain unharmed in the
mouth. The area of focus for the dentists and doctors is the gum pocket. Under
the gum tissues and above the teeth’s surface is usually an area which remains
away from the immune system. Thus, any unchecked bacteria such as P. gingivalis
can buildup in these pockets and form a force to invade not only the internal
system of the mouth but also in the other vital systems of the body.
And since P. gingivalis is the same kind of bacteria that
can cause Alzheimer’s, it is quite important to make sure that you take care of
your oral health.
Take care of your oral hygiene
It is really very important to take care of your oral
hygiene. First, you have to brush your teeth twice in every day. And then, you
will need to floss for at least once in a day. The biggest benefit of flossing
is that it cleans hidden and interdental areas quite amazingly. Moreover,
flossing can actually stimulate the gum tissues, leading to the stronger grip
of gums over the teeth. And while there are many misconceptions about flossing,
you need to avoid getting influences by those misconceptions.
