Brushing, flossing, and rinsing can help maintain a healthy smile and even the ability to digest food effectively—but there are other reasons to treat your teeth with care. New research is hinting that your dental health and your brain health share a surprising connection, and that having one oral condition in particular could impact brain function and memory.
A December 2024 study published in JARLife, the expert-vetted Journal of Aging Research and Lifestyle, recently found that having severe periodontitis, commonly known as gum disease, is linked with cognitive decline. A team of clinicians specializing in neurology and oral surgery in Japan collected data from 321 participants living in a community setting, 123 of whom had periodontitis and 41 of whom were later diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The researchers used calculation models to dial in on the exact risk levels for the test and control groups.
After evaluating the influences of age, education level, functional teeth, and presence of severe periodontitis, the team identified a higher prevalence of mild cognitive impairment in the severe periodontitis group (65.9%), compared with the unimpaired group (34.3%). “A strong association was seen between severe periodontitis and mild cognitive impairment. Severe periodontitis appears to be a risk factor for mild cognitive impairment, and patients with severe periodontitis should be assessed for mild cognitive impairment,” the study authors wrote.
There are several mechanisms by which gum disease could lead to cognitive impairment. One is that oral bacteria can travel through the bloodstream to the brain. According to 2023 research in Frontiers in Public Health, this can “produce toxins such as lipopolysaccharides, arg-gingipain, and lys-gingipain, which damage the tau protein, which is responsible for neuronal function.”
However, as a 2020 study published in the journal Oral Diseases pointed out, the relationship between oral health and cognitive health also appears to be bidirectional. “Oral health tends to deteriorate as cognitive function declines,” the authors observed, as an individual becomes less capable of managing their daily routines. “[…D]ementia has been found to be a strong predictor of poor oral health including the severity of periodontitis,” those authors reported.
What the research indicates is the importance of staying up on routine health appointments—dental and otherwise. And, flag any concerns about your cognitions with your primary care provider—as the Japan researchers state: “Early detection of cognitive decline … is expected to provide a better prognosis.”
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