Bacterial Translocation

Bacterial translocation occurs when gut bacteria breach the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream. Translocated bacteria and endotoxins activate monocytes and macrophages, escalating inflammation from local to systemic. Oral bacteria can enter the bloodstream directly through the gums, and arterial plaque has been shown to contain bacteria originating from the mouth. The colon is the main reservoir of gut microbes, and when its environment becomes alkaline, pathogens can breach the colon wall. Two potential routes have been proposed for oral bacteria to travel from the mouth to the brain: nerve pathways and sinus pathways. Oral bacteria may reach the brain by migrating through nerves that anatomically connect the oral cavity to the brain. Oral bacteria may reach brain tissue by traveling through the sinuses, which are in close anatomical proximity to the brain. Repeated bacterial translocation is said to progressively degrade immune function. Translocated bacteria cause a wide range of downstream problems including systemic infections, skin conditions, and potentially arterial inflammation.