Here are 3 facts you should know about Porphyromonas gingivalis:
- p gingivalis is normally at low levels in the oral microbiome, however, when P. gingivalis grows to high abundance, it can cause severe gum disease.
- High abundance of p gingivalis is associated with not only gum disease, but also heart disease, arthritis, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and even Alzheimers disease.
- p gingivalis creates proteins called gingipains that can cut other proteins, such as proteins important for maintaining your immune system. gingipains have even been found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease, suggesting that p gingivalis might be responsible for the progression of the disease.
