{"id":14382,"date":"2024-03-19T19:38:31","date_gmt":"2024-03-19T19:38:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/?p=14382"},"modified":"2026-01-08T19:39:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T19:39:22","slug":"oral-bacteria-and-brain-abscesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/2024\/03\/19\/oral-bacteria-and-brain-abscesses\/","title":{"rendered":"Oral Bacteria and the Brain: What is the Connection?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It is believed that the mouth contains more than six billion bacteria. Both good and bad species exist, some helping to improve oral health while others trigger disease. New evidence now suggests that bad oral bacteria<\/a> can not only create problems for teeth and gums but also for the brain. If you have not been as diligent about your dental hygiene routine, it\u2019s time to discover just how risky it is to your whole-body health when it comes to neglecting your smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How Does Oral Bacteria Increase the Risk for Brain Abscesses?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Instead of simply wreaking havoc within the oral cavity, bad oral bacteria are now believed to also contribute to the formation of brain abscesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Journal of Dentistry<\/em> recently released a study in which researchers from The University of Plymouth and University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust state they have discovered the presence of oral bacteria within patients\u2019 brain abscesses. Samples were taken from 87 individuals who were admitted to a hospital with brain abscesses. Among those who had oral bacteria within the brain, they also had higher levels of Streptococcus anginosus. This is commonly found in various organs throughout the body including the liver, lungs, and brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study concludes that in cases where a brain abscess cannot be attributed to other causes, it may be that oral bacteria cause the infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Can Be Done to Lower Bad Oral Bacteria in the Mouth?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The study\u2019s lead author expressed the importance of patients practicing good oral hygiene to lower the number of bad oral bacteria inside the mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it\u2019s impossible to eliminate all of it, there are things you can do to improve the health of your teeth, gums, and overall oral cavity, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n