Oral Bacteria and Brain Abscesses: What’s the Connection?

The mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body, so your oral health can have a huge impact on your other systems. Unless they are treated right away, oral infections can spread to other areas of the body through the bloodstream, including the jaw, lungs, and heart. Oral bacteria have even been associated with brain abscesses. Continue reading to learn more about the connections between the two.

What Is the Link Between Oral Bacteria and Brain Abscesses?

An abscess is a condition that consists of a bacterial infection and pus in body tissue. When this occurs in the brain, it can be very serious, and even life threatening. This can result in various symptoms, including headaches, fevers, seizures, and neurological deficits. The way that oral bacteria get there is through the bloodstream.

Your mouth is full of bacteria – both good and bad. The goal is for these bacteria to balance each other out, resulting in a healthy ecosystem. However, if there is an overgrowth of bad bacteria, an infection occurs. This can spread through the bloodstream to other areas of the body and cause significant damage. Streptococcus anginosus is a type of bacteria that is commonly found in dental abscesses and has been known to lead to infections of internal organs, including the brain.

How Can You Prevent the Spread of Oral Bacteria to the Brain

To prevent infections of the mouth from spreading to other areas of the body, it’s important to address the issue at hand. Infection of the gum tissue, also known as gum disease, is incredibly common, affecting approximately half of adults over the age of 30 in the United States. Despite being so widespread, gum disease can be easily prevented by maintaining an excellent oral hygiene routine at home and seeing your dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups. Here are some steps you should take to keep your smile healthy:

• Brush twice daily with fluoridated toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Floss every day to remove plaque and food debris from between the teeth and beneath the gumline.
• Rinse your mouth with antibacterial mouthwash.
• Limit your intake of sugary and starchy foods.
• See your dentist twice a year for routine cleanings and checkups.
• If you notice any changes in your smile, like inflamed and irritated gum tissue, let your dentist know so the next steps can be taken.

The health of your smile directly impacts the health of the rest of your body. By staying on top of your dental hygiene, you can reduce your risk of the serious effects of oral bacteria, like brain abscesses. If you think that you may have gum disease, this is the time to see your dentist. When addressed early on, gum disease can be reversed with different treatments, like scaling and root planing. This way, you can continue to show off a complete smile and keep your body healthy!

About the Practice

At All Smiles Leesburg, Dr. McBryde, Dr. Le, Dr. Bermudez, and Dr. Chen work together to  serve patients in the Leesburg community. With their combined experience and expertise, patients can get pretty much anything they need under one roof. If you struggle with gum disease, they would be happy to help. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit their website or call (703) 777-4443.