Unique Study Links Oral Health to Brain and Heart Disease: Insights from Bolivia’s Tsimané People

A new study published in The Journals of Gerontology uncovers a critical connection between oral health and systemic diseases like dementia and heart disease. While we’ve often treated dental care as separate from overall health, it turns out that poor oral hygiene can trigger widespread effects on the brain and heart, far more severe than we typically imagine. 

The research focuses on the Tsimané people of Bolivia, an Indigenous group known for their traditional lifestyle—free from processed foods, pollution, and many of the modern health risks that impact industrialized societies. Despite this, individuals with damaged teeth in the Tsimané group showed higher rates of brain inflammation, brain tissue loss, and aortic valve calcification, a key precursor to heart disease.

So how does poor oral health cause such widespread damage?

The key issue is bacteria. When we don’t properly care for our teeth, harmful bacteria build up and can eventually enter the bloodstream. This triggers systemic inflammation, which doesn’t just stay localized to the mouth—it travels throughout the body. Chronic inflammation is one of the driving forces behind neurodegeneration (the loss of neurons and brain tissue) and can lead to a shrinkage of brain regions tied to memory and language.

In fact, a 2024 study published in BMC Oral Health found that individuals with significant cavities exhibited a noticeable reduction in cerebral cortical thickness—the very areas of the brain most affected by Alzheimer’s disease. The findings suggest a clear link between poor dental care and cognitive decline.

 This isn’t the only alarming connection. The same bacteria responsible for oral inflammation can spread to the heart. The Tsimané study found that individuals with poor dental health were more likely to suffer from aortic valve calcification. This dangerous buildup of calcium in the heart’s aortic valve can eventually lead to heart disease or even heart failure. Even in a population with otherwise low heart disease rates, poor oral hygiene resulted in serious heart complications.

Further research backs up these claims. For instance, a 2022 paper in the International Journal of Dentistry showed that individuals with significant tooth loss had elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), an enzyme produced by the liver that indicates inflammation in the body. People with high CRP levels are at greater risk for heart disease, stroke, and even diabetes. 

These studies all point to one conclusion: oral health is deeply connected to the health of the entire body. Poor dental hygiene not only increases the risk of inflammation but also puts individuals at risk for cognitive decline, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses.

Yet despite the clear scientific evidence, dental care is still often treated as a separate, less important part of health care. In the U.S., for example, dental insurance is often considered a luxury, and coverage is frequently disconnected from broader health insurance plans. This gap in care leaves many vulnerable to the far-reaching effects of poor oral health.

As more research continues to uncover the connections between oral bacteria, inflammation, and chronic disease, one thing is clear: brushing and flossing are about much more than just a clean smile. They’re key to protecting your brain, heart, and long-term health.