{"id":550,"date":"2021-06-21T18:39:15","date_gmt":"2021-06-21T18:39:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonvilledentalspecialists.com\/blog\/?p=550"},"modified":"2021-06-21T18:39:15","modified_gmt":"2021-06-21T18:39:15","slug":"alzheimers-disease-and-the-link-to-gum-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonvilledentalspecialists.com\/blog\/2021\/06\/21\/alzheimers-disease-and-the-link-to-gum-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Gum Disease Negatively Impact the Brain?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"an<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Millions of Americans are living with some form of gum disease and do not even know it. For those with cases that remain untreated, there is the potential for more serious oral and overall health problems, one of which is Alzheimer\u2019s disease<\/a>. Much research has been done to determine the link, so if you want to make sure you\u2019re keeping your smile, body, and brain in optimal condition, read on to learn more about what you can do to lower your risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Gum Disease and Your Brain: What You Need to Know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Researchers have discovered there is a link between gum disease and Alzheimer\u2019s. By studying the brain tissues of deceased individuals with Alzheimer\u2019s disease, it was discovered that one of the primary pathogens commonly associated with gum disease, Porphyromonas gingivalis, was found within the brain. But before you start to think that this neurological brain disorder will develop if you have gum disease, this is not always the case, and vice versa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers also injected this same pathogen into mice and later found traces of it in their brains as well as damaged neurons. Additionally, the mice showed high levels of beta-amyloid, which causes plaque to form within the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you consider what happens as a result of gum disease, the inflammation and infection can enter the bloodstream and travel to various parts of the body. Because your body\u2019s immune system is weakened as a result of the attack occurring on your soft oral tissues, your brain may be unable to fight off the infection, causing the potential for Alzheimer\u2019s and even dementia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ways to Safeguard Your Smile and Prevent Alzheimer\u2019s<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since much more research needs to be done to determine if there is a definite link between the two diseases, you must not live in fear that having one will cause the other. Instead, it is best to move forward by taking the best possible care of your smile and overall health. You can do this by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n