We all know we should clean our teeth daily, but good oral hygiene can do more for you than give you a healthy smile. According to experts, it could improve your brain health and reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Poor dental care can lead to gum disease (gingivitis) when bacteria builds up around the teeth and gums, which can result in more severe and irreversible gum disease, known as periodontitis. These bacteria don’t always stay put—they can enter the bloodstream and trigger chronic inflammation, which is linked to brain aging and conditions like Alzheimer’s. “Multiple large studies and scientific reviews now show a consistent link between gum disease and an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia,” says dentist and oral health expert Dr Kami Hoss, author of If Your Mouth Could Talk. Article continues below You may like “A 2025 umbrella of reviews—covering 52 studies spanning two decades—suggests that people with gum disease are significantly more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than those with healthy gums.” Hoss, who is also …