One Simple Way To Decrease Your Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

Thinking about doing crossword puzzles to keep your mind sharp? Forget it. Scientists are now saying that keeping your mouth clean could help stave off Alzheimer's disease (AD).

According to Science Advances, researchers from University of Louisville found strong evidence that Porphyromonas gingivalis — a species of oral bacteria that causes chronic gum disease — may also be involved in driving the development of AD.

In the study, scientists compared the brains and spinal fluids of deceased people with AD pathology to those with a clinical diagnosis. In the AD brains and spinal fluids, they found P. gingivalis DNA and higher levels of toxic enzymes called gingipains. These enzymes suppress the host's defense system, helping the infection spread and damage surrounding cells.

The researchers also infected the mouths of otherwise healthy mice with P. gingivalis every other day for 6 weeks. The bacteria not only invaded the brains of all the mice, but also caused a significant increase in amyloid beta — a component of the plaques found in AD patients' brains.

What Can You Do?

Your tongue is the habitat of a large variety of plaque-forming and disease-causing microorganisms, including P. gingivalis. Research has shown that the most effective way to clean your tongue is to use a tongue scraper. When used consistently, tongue scraping reduces the number of bacteria on your tongue — leading to better breath and possibly reducing your risk of AD.

So what are you waiting for? Grab your tongue scraper today. Your future self will thank you.

Ready to make tongue scraping part of your daily routine? The ScrapeYourTongue tongue scraper is designed for daily use — flexible, two-handed grip, covers your full tongue in one pass, and won't trigger your gag reflex. Available as a 1-pack for $8 or a 4-pack for $9.99. Shop now →