Want To Avoid Alzheimer's? Protect Your Teeth, Says A Neurologist 

I'll go ahead and assume you don't think much about your oral health routine, aside from a daily brush and floss. Perhaps you've dabbled in a round of whitening strips or have a teeth-whitening pen stashed in your tote—but when it comes to your overall health and well-being, you might not think twice about those pearly whites.

Well, according to neurologist Dale Bredesen, M.D., author of the New York Times bestselling book The End of Alzheimer's, protecting your oral health is crucial for brain health long term.

Just like your gut, your oral cavity harbors trillions of bacteria; as board-certified pediatric dentist Saci Whitman, DMD, previously wrote for mbg, your oral microbiome is the second most diverse microbiome in our bodies.

What's more, your mouth is the gateway to your body and the beginning of your gastrointestinal tract. Studies have even shown that oral bacteria can actually travel toward the gut and change its microbiota1—and we likely don't have to remind you of the gut-brain connection.

"So I recommend everyone check out your oral microbiome," advises Bredesen. (He suggests using a service like MyPerioPath.) "Do you have P. gingivalis, T. denticola, prevotella intermedia, F. nucleatum? These organisms are being found in the brain; they're being found in the plaques of coronary arteries… These things are impacting us systemically2."

For example, one study found that the aforementioned bacteria P. gingivalis, the key pathogen in periodontitis, was identified in the brain of Alzheimer's disease patients3.

Traditional antiseptic mouthwashes are incredibly antibacterial, which means they sweep away all the bacteria—good and bad—to give you that fresh, minty feeling. And your oral microbiome needs a healthy balance of good bacteria!

If you swish frequently for a long period of time, your oral microbiome might suffer down the line (and some experts even say it can lead to bad breath). 

"Bad bacteria overgrow when they eat sugar, especially in an acidic environment. Simply cutting back on your intake of sugary and acidic foods will make a big difference," notes Whitman.