Brain Disease Stroke Alzheimer’s
Incursions from the open wounds of the gums end up in many target organs such as the brain. Both by direct infection by the germs themselves as well as their toxic waste products.
Secondarily, the body’s immune system gets triggered and releases messengers that can have their own irritating effects inside the blood vessels of the brain.
This can lead to clogging of the brain arteries and shutdown of the blood supply to critical brain areas.
Blood vessel walls may also be weakened and this can result in blow-outs of the vessels with leaking into the brain. This can also compromise blood supply as well as put pressure on the delicate brain tissue itself. The result? Stroke.
There is also plenty of indication that germs from the mouth can end up in the brain. These localized infections can severly damage brain function and may be responsible for Alzheimer’s disease.
Recent research shows the presence of spirochete germs (SPY-ro-keet) similar to the types that cause syphilis. These writhing snake-like bacteria are very resistant to treatment, because when they sense the least irritation of the presence of an antibiotic, they curl up and turn into cysts or spore forms that are extremely resistant to the antibiotics.
Interestingly, some of the big medical insurance companies are realizing that treating and preventing gum disease makes for major reductions in costs of providing medical care for things like heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Companies like Aetna are actually funding special programs to encourage their insured members to get in for proper gum care. See http://www.aetna.com/news/2006/pr_20060317.htm