Poor health in one part of the body often leads to problems elsewhere . A new study links gum disease with an increased risk of damage to the brain's white matter, which transmits signals around the central nervous system.

These findings aren't conclusive, but they suggest that persistent inflammation in the mouth could be harming the brain as well – and that practicing good oral hygiene may benefit white matter in the brain as well as gums and teeth.

The researchers behind the study, led by a team from the University of South Carolina, were particularly interested in white matter hyperintensities (WMHs). These are key markers of cerebral small vessel disease or CSVD, which affects the brain's blood vessels and increases the chances of a stroke and cognitive decline .

"This study

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