Importantly, for years dentists noted a strong correlation between chronic gum disease and Alzheimer’s. It was established that gum disease allows the five spirochete bacteria that commonly dwell in the mouth to slip past the blood/brain barrier and enter the brain.
While they do not cause an infection there, when they die, the remnants of a vast number of bacteria seem to form the plaque associated with Alzheimer’s.
The solution to this is easy. While ordinary toothpaste is good at reducing plaque and tartar, as well as strengthening the teeth, ordinary powdered baking soda is particularly lethal to spirochete bacteria, killing them with just five seconds of exposure.
Baking soda toothpaste is not concentrated enough to do this, however. So they now advise to *alternate* brushing the teeth with toothpaste and powdered baking soda on different days. This may prevent Alzheimer’s in the first place.
Which goes to show you that the 'old ways' weren't quite so dumb as many people believe.
I had also heard that people who lost teeth early in life, or in mid-life, also had a lower incidence of Alzheimer's.
So that may lead credence to what you have stated regarding spirochetes in the mouth .
As I recall, 'old timey' toothpaste consisted of baking soda and pumice.
Unfortunately, pumice wears down the enamel of the teeth, while the baking soda cleanses the teeth.
Frequent brushing of teeth resulted in tooth loss.