{"id":663,"date":"2026-07-16T23:51:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T23:51:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.northjacksonvillecompletedentistry.com\/blog\/?p=663"},"modified":"2026-08-06T23:53:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T23:53:10","slug":"oral-health-brain-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.northjacksonvillecompletedentistry.com\/blog\/oral-health-brain-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Oral Health & Brain Health \u2013 What\u2019s the Link?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Brain<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Your mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body. You may see a dentist to address dental health instead of a medical doctor, but it goes hand in hand with your overall health. Having oral health<\/a> issues can lead to various different problems with your general health. It can even impact your brain function. Continue reading to learn about the connection between the two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Is the Connection Between Brain Health & Oral Health?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The earliest stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. This is very common and can generally be reversed with excellent oral hygiene and some help from your dentist. However, when left unaddressed, this can progress to a more serious stage of gum disease called periodontitis. This is when subgingival pockets develop between the teeth and gums. This fills with debris and bacteria and can be nearly impossible to get rid of completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a certain type of bacteria found in periodontitis which is also present in the brains of those who are suffering from Alzheimer\u2019s disease. This is called Porphyromonas gingivalis. A U.S. pharmaceutical company, Cortexyme, did a test on mice to show how these bacteria spread to the brain and result in characteristic feature so f Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do You Prevent Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even though gum disease is common, it is also easy to prevent. Here are some of the ways that you can keep your gums healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n