One surprising connection between the mouth and the body is the link between gingivitis and Alzheimer’s disease. When a person’s gums are infected, it releases inflammatory markers into the bloodstream.
These can then travel to the brain, where they hasten the development of amyloid plaques. These are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s, and when there is more plaque in the brain, it can interfere with the critical communication between synapses. As a result, patients experience worsening cognitive decline.