Dr. Katie ToThe Wellness Dentist, CEO and Founder of Center for Wellness Dentistry and Wellness Dentist Institute.

5 Ways Your Mouth Controls Your Whole Body

27 Jul 2026 · 1 min

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1:16

In this short talk Dr. Katie To explains how oral health is not isolated to the mouth but directly influences major systemic conditions. She outlines five key pathways: (1) periodontal bacteria can enter the bloodstream, contributing to cardiovascular disease; (2) some oral microbes, especially Porphyromonas gingivalis, can cross the blood‑brain barrier and have been detected in Alzheimer’s plaques, suggesting a role in neurodegeneration; (3) the same bacteria are implicated in arterial plaque formation, linking gum disease to atherosclerosis; (4) a bidirectional relationship exists between gum disease and diabetes—gum infection worsens insulin resistance and high blood sugar impairs gum healing; and (5) overall oral bacterial load serves as a marker of systemic inflammation, affecting immune function and healing. Dr. To emphasizes that emerging research and treatment protocols are targeting these oral‑systemic connections, urging viewers to view oral hygiene as a central component of whole‑body health.

Chapters

This is the science that changes how you think about your health. There are 5 ways that your oral health is actually forming who you are. Uh, heart health, the periodontal bacteria, it goes in the bloodstream and, um, you can't keep your bacteria in your mouth only. It's gonna go through the bloodstream, go to your big toe, go across the— some of them, some of the bacteria go across the blood-brain barrier with the blood. That's super important. Uh, P. gingivalis is one of the most common gum pathogens and it has been found in the Alzheimer's plaque. So if you need someone who is suffering with Alzheimer's, there are some protocols that can help patients with that, either early onset dementia, lots of things going on there. A lot of research is very active in this area. I always said plaque is plaque, the plaque in the arteries, the plaques in the brain. They are finding these bacteria are a significant factor causing— genetics plays part of it, but a lot of times you can find these bacteria in there. The blood sugar as well. If you have really elevated blood sugar, uh, fasting insulin levels are high. Uh, gum disease and diabetics, uh, those are definitely bidirectional. The bacteria get in there, they decrease the healing, and they increase your insulin, uh, sensitivity. You end up having some issues with not being able to clear sugar in the blood.