Gum disease connected to brain damage, study finds

Karl Hille, Baltimore Sun on Nov 4, 2025

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Did you brush your teeth?

A new study links gum disease to signs of brain damage in older adults.

These signs, called white matter hyperintensities, are thought to show damage to the brain’s white matter, according to the report published October 22 in Neurology Open Access. White matter enables communication between different areas of the brain, and damage can interfere with memory, reasoning, balance and coordination. White matter damage is also connected to increased risk of stroke.

“This study shows a link between gum disease and white matter hyperintensities, suggesting oral health may play a role in brain health that we are only beginning to understand,” study author Souvic Sen of the University of South Carolina told the American Academy of Neurology.

“While more research is needed to understand this relationship, these findings add to growing evidence that keeping your mouth healthy may support a healthier brain.”

Researchers believe that inflammation in the gums could influence blood vessel health in the brain.

Poor oral hygiene has been linked in the past to infertility, erectile dysfunction, kidney disease, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, heart disease, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease, according to the American Academy for Oral Systemic Health.

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