It’s easy to think of brushing, flossing, and dental checkups as habits that only protect your teeth and gums. But research suggests your oral health may also be connected to something much bigger: your brain.
A study highlighted by the American Academy of Neurology in the summer of 2023 found a link between poor dental health and shrinkage in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that plays an important role in memory. While this doesn’t mean gum disease or tooth loss directly causes memory problems, it does add to a growing body of evidence showing that what happens in your mouth may affect the rest of your body in meaningful ways.
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