2026-02-17 17:01:12
Brushing your teeth three times a day could help protect against more than 50 serious health conditions.
Experts say poor oral hygiene has now been linked to illnesses including arthritis, Parkinson’s and dementia, as mounting evidence shows bacteria in the mouth can trigger inflammation throughout the body.
Speaking at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual conference in Phoenix, Professor Alpdogan Kantarci, from the University of Minnesota, said advanced gum disease can worsen existing health problems.
He said: “We now think that maintaining your teeth in health may be associated with a reduced risk of more than 50 systemic conditions.
“Research is now showing that in people with mild or moderate diseases, those who are brushing and taking care of their teeth or seeing a dentist and having advanced cleanings, are showing much better cognitive responses.”
While gum disease does not directly cause dementia, Professor Kantarci explained it can accelerate decline in those already at risk. Animal studies have shown that periodontitis can increase brain inflammation and that harmful oral bacteria can cross the blood-brain barrier.
Dr Nobuhiko Kamada, from the University of Michigan, added that mouth bacteria can also disrupt the gut microbiome, potentially raising the risk of inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer.
Professor Kantarci said: “Unfortunately the UK is not much different from a third-world country in terms of oral care.
“We think that the Western world has better access to oral care but you would be surprised that all of the processed food, the soft diet, lack of exercise, obesity and so on are really predisposing us, much more so than anywhere in the world.
“The UK is top of the list for obesity, for instance. The same thing is true for other unexpected countries like Turkey.”
He added: “This is affecting people’s teeth, their oral health. So it’s not a surprise that people are getting these diseases more in developed countries.
“The answer is very clear, that we have to improve oral health awareness for systemic health.”
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