Separate studies are testing other ways to eradicate Pg, from antibodies that may keep it from spreading to a possible vaccine. In animals who received it, “not only was the level of Pg DNA reduced, but also the pathology typical for did not develop in their brains,” Potempa said.ĬOR388 is currently in phase 1 clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease. In the study, Potempa and other researchers also tested the ability of an experimental drug known as COR388 to neutralize gingipains and block brain infection.

“This result not only strongly supports that Pg brain infection may underline Alzheimer’s disease, but it pinpoints gingipains as major factors,” Potempa said. But what was truly surprising was “finding Pg major proteins, called gingipains, in the brains at a level much higher than in mentally healthy people of the same age,” Potempa said.Īnd when mice were orally infected with Pg, the same DNA fingerprint was discovered in their brains, as well as the changes typically seen in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Potempa and other researchers observed Pg in the brains of deceased people with Alzheimer’s disease. Once there, Pg can cause pathological changes. Researchers now know it can sneak across the blood-brain barrier, a network of dense cells that protects the brain from harmful substances.

“It’s a true gang leader converting good microbes into bad ones.”ĭepending on where in the body it decides to go, Pg has been linked to a number of serious health issues, including pneumonia, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, hepatitis, and esophageal cancer.

“Pg is full of surprises and deserves far more attention than it gets,” said Jan Potempa, PhD, DSc, a professor at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry, head of the department of microbiology at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, and a researcher for the study. One known organism with the ability to cause harm in other parts of the body is Porphyromonas gingivalis, or Pg. “As oral bacteria breaks into the bloodstream, it can travel to organs throughout the body, including the brain,” Burhenne explained. “Think of it as a protective gasket where, in a healthy mouth, the immune system keeps bugs from entering the body and causing infection,” Burhenne said.īut when you have chronic gum disease or other oral infections, this seal breaks down. The base of each of your teeth is protected by what’s called biological width. “They’re unique, however, in that they’re the only component of the body that breaks through skin with a bone at the base.” “Teeth are made of the same cell structure as bone,” said Mark Burhenne, DDS, founder of. Each time you chew, brush, or floss, these germs get pushed into small vessels in your gums. You swallow plenty of bacteria that end up in your gut, but your bloodstream is also a convenient form of transport. “Roughly two dozen oral species can be associated with diseases or conditions in other parts of the body,” Fourre said.

But despite this perfect environment, not all the germs in your mouth stay put. It’s constantly moist, has a fairly neutral pH, and a balmy temperature. Your mouth is a great habitat for unicellular microorganisms. Oral bacteria also thrive inside your cheeks and on your tongue, palate, tonsils, and gums. When your teeth feel slimy and in need of a brushing, you’re feeling their presence. Your mouth, or what scientists refer to as the oral microbiome, is “a complex community with lots of communication between bacteria of the same species as well as across species,” Fourre said. “A reasonable estimate of the number of species that are ‘bad’ is roughly 15 to 20, but that will continue to evolve as we learn more about how these species interact with each other,” said Tara Fourre, research manager for global oral health innovation and microbiology at Johnson & Johnson. Some promote health, others provoke disease. Over 6 billion bacteria, including 700 different species, reside inside your mouth.

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