Today it’s a toothache or a root canal. Or maybe just some nasty bleeding gums. But tomorrow, it could be something far worse. Unthinkable even.
You could find yourself suffering from cognitive struggles. Or even get the awful news from your doctor that you’re in the earliest stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
And as bizarre as it sounds, there could be a direct line from that trouble with your teeth to the trouble with your brain.
Because once ignored, those dental problems could set the stage for Alzheimer’s disease. But that also means something else.
If you’re still healthy enough to read this letter, you have time to act – time to head this tragedy off at the pass.
And studies show EXACTLY how to do it.
Rotten teeth could “rot” your brain
Scientists have found a direct link between poor oral hygiene and Alzheimer’s disease. I know that might sound a little unlikely at first. But believe it or not, there’s some real science you can sink your teeth into here.
You see, the same harmful germs that eat away at teeth and gums turn into a NIGHTMARE once they find their way further inside your body.
It turns out there’s a link between oral genes and some cases of heart attack, stroke, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Research has found Porphyromonas gingivalis – the germ behind gum disease – in the brains of dementia patients. And now, a new study finds that discovery was no random coincidence.
By using DNA tracking, the researchers confirmed it’s not just some other strain of the same germ that happened to find its way into the brain. They showed that Porphyromonas gingivalis starts in the mouth, rotting out teeth and gums. But then the germ heads inside the body and makes a beeline for the brain.
Once inside, it makes itself at home and set up shop. It starts cranking out proteins that wipe out nerve cells in the brain. And that can lead to cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.
The new study helps explain earlier research from a few years back. In that study, scientists found that folks who have gum disease for 10 years or more have a 70 percent higher risk of Alzheimer’s. Now we can say for sure why.
Break out the brush to reduce Alzheimer’s risk
The solution here is pretty obvious. Get a good toothbrush and use it.
Brush at least twice a day with a fluoride-free toothpaste that uses baking soda or hydrogen peroxide. And when you do, you won’t just be saving your chompers. You’ll be slashing your risk for Alzheimer’s disease at the same time.
And, of course, be sure to floss. The jury is still out on whether or not flossing makes much of a difference when it comes to cavities. But we now know that’s FAR from the only reason to get the germ-promoting gunk out of your gums.
Just be sure to use unwaxed floss. It’s a little rougher, but that can help pluck all the bacteria out of the nooks and crannies in your teeth. Plus, certain waxed varieties contain cancer-linked chemicals. (If you missed that shocker, click here to catch up.)
Can’t live without the wax? Don’t trade Alzheimer’s disease risk for cancer risk. Simply choose a floss with a safer natural coating, such as Tom’s of Maine.
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