Flossing is good for your … brain?

Key Takeaways

• Germs and inflammation from the mouth can enter the blood stream and affect the heart and brain.
• Research has shown a link between poor oral health and declining brain health.
• Inflammation in the mouth can result in an increased chance of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Regularly brushing and flossing your teeth are not just important for oral health but overall health, too.

Physicians, dentists, pharmacists, and nurses all have one thing in common: we all want to get you to a state of good health and keep you there.

Our worlds intersect more than you may realize.

Take, for example, cardiologists and dentists.

The American Heart Association reports that “mouth germs and gum inflammation can enter the bloodstream and is linked to inflammation in the body. Gum disease is linked to higher risk for heart and blood vessel disease and high blood pressure.

Makes sense, right?

But what about the intersection between dentists and neurologists, like me?

Preliminary research presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference in 2023 showed that “adults who are genetically prone to poor oral health may be more likely to show signs of declining brain health than those with healthy teeth and gums.”

The research also showed that “early treatment of poor oral health may lead to significant brain health benefits.”

In the same way bacteria from your mouth can get into your bloodstream and travel to your heart, it can travel to your brain, too.

It plays a role in Alzheimer’s, stroke, and anything that causes a lot of inflammation in the brain.

How is this possible?

Alzheimer’s disease refers specifically to the buildup of abnormal proteins called amyloid, which form the plaques most people are familiar with and tau, which form tangles.

These proteins build up in the brain and when they do, they can cause disruption of the neurons and death of the brain cells, which ultimately could lead to the symptoms that we see with Alzheimer’s disease.

There’s inflammation going on, and there are problems with the blood vessels in the brain.

That’s why taking care of your teeth is vital. Anything you can do to keep the bacteria in your mouth from traveling to other parts of your body is important for your overall health.

That’s right. I’m a neurologist telling you to brush and floss your teeth regularly.

There are other things you can do to decrease your risk of developing Alzheimer’s, too.

By far, the single best thing, if you will, in the prevention of Alzheimer’s, is staying physically active. I cannot stress that enough.

Now, I know that sounds like it’s just a boring doctor answer, but it has shown to have antidepressant effects, it reduces the inflammation in your brain, and it helps restore the blood flow, which is an important part of getting rid of all the nasty plaque and tangles  out of your brain.

But the importance really lies in doing all this younger. If you already have symptoms now, it’s very important to do it still. The great benefit is doing it proactively early on. The age range of 35 to 45 is kind of like the magic window for when you want to be proactive about your brain health.

Here to help

Alzheimer’s is more than one person’s memory loss. Its cognitive, emotional, and physical impacts create confusion and stress for patients and their loved ones.

Early diagnosis can prove critical for successful treatment outcomes. The WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute Memory Health Clinic offers comprehensive, individualized diagnosis and treatment for Alzheimer’s, while providing support for caregivers.

If you or a loved one is dealing with memory issues, our team can help.

For more information, visit WVUMedicine.org/Memory.