Table of contents:
- Disease caused by the spread of bacteria in the oral cavity to the brain
- Tips to prevent the spread of oral bacteria to the brain
- 1. Brush your teeth regularly
- 2. Use dental floss
- 3. Gargle with water after eating
- 4. Routine dental health checks
Bacteria can live anywhere, including in your body, such as your intestines or oral cavity. Not only life, these super-tiny creatures can even move from one organ to another. For example, bacteria in the mouth can move to the brain. Why can this happen and how to prevent it?
Disease caused by the spread of bacteria in the oral cavity to the brain
More than billions of bacteria live in your mouth. There are good bacteria that support health, there are also those that trigger inflammation and disease. These bacteria in the mouth are called the oral microbiome.
The bacteria live on the inner cheeks, tongue, palate, tonsils and gums. If the environment in the mouth is too acidic, humid, and dirty, disease-causing bacteria can thrive.
Not only in the mouth, bacteria can enter the bloodstream so that they can move to the heart, intestines and brain. One of the dangerous bacteria that can cause inflammation in the body is P.orphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) —bacteria that cause gum problems.
A study conducted by the University of Louisville School of Medicine showed that the amount of Pg in the brains of Alzheimer's sufferers was higher than in the brains of healthy people.
This suggests that the oral microbiome can travel to the brain and cause infection.
Tips to prevent the spread of oral bacteria to the brain
The transfer of bacteria from the mouth to other parts of the body, including the brain, is a natural process. You cannot completely prevent the transfer of these bacteria.
However, the number of bacteria that enter the bloodstream can be reduced. The trick, of course, is by taking care of oral hygiene.
Teeth and mouth care so that bacteria do not reach the brain is the same as dental care in general that you usually do, namely:
1. Brush your teeth regularly
So that bad bacteria in the mouth do not grow rapidly and reach the brain, dental hygiene must be maintained. Brush your teeth 2 times a day, that is, after meals and before bed.
Don't brush your teeth in a hurry or too hard. Take about 2 minutes to brush your teeth evenly. Then, rinse your mouth with clean water.
In addition, keep your toothbrush equipment clean. Before using a toothbrush, first rinse with water. After that, store it in a dry place.
Don't leave your toothbrush wet and damp, as this can promote the growth of bacteria, mold, and yeast.
2. Use dental floss
Oral bacteria can infiltrate the narrow crevices in the teeth. If left untreated, gum disease can occur and oral bacteria have a greater chance of transferring to the brain.
Don't worry, you can improve your dental hygiene with flossing (using dental floss).
3. Gargle with water after eating
Food can make the pH of the mouth more acidic. Leftover food stuck to the teeth and not cleaned can become plaque which will continue to accumulate from day to day.
This dirty oral environment is a suitable place for bacteria to breed. This can increase the risk of infection and spread of oral bacteria to the brain.
Well, before cleaning your teeth after eating, it's a good idea to wait 30 to 45 minutes. Gargle with water first to clean up the rest of the food.
After that, just continue brushing your teeth so that the number of bacteria is reduced.
Why don't you brush your teeth right after eating? Sweet and sour foods can weaken the tooth enamel (outer layer).
That's why brushing your teeth right after eating will erode your tooth enamel too.
4. Routine dental health checks
The next step is routine dental health checks to the doctor. This must be done at least every 6 months. Moreover, if you are very prone to dental and mouth problems.
