Poor Oral Health Linked To Dementia
Aug-01-2013

That poor oral health can cause bad breath, cavities and rotting teeth shouldn't come as a surprise. An article published by Reuters suggests a link between poor dental health and dementia.

According to a study done by the University of California, "those who reported brushing their teeth less than once a day were up to 65 percent more likely to develop dementia than those who brushed daily."

In the study it was found that participants who have dementia also have a significantly higher percentage of gum disease bacteria in their brain than those who don't suffer from it.

The dementia study was also discussed in the United Kingdom, where the details of the study were discussed more thoroughly.

"The researchers found that men who had poor chewing function and did not wear dentures ... had a 91% increased risk of dementia compared with men who had enough natural teeth to allow adequate chewing," the study suggests.

According to United Kingdom's Alzeimer's Society, "There are two main types of dental disease - gum (periodontal) disease and tooth decay (dental caries, more commonly known as cavities). Both can cause discomfort or pain and can lead to the development of infection. Both pain and infection can worsen the confusion associated with dementia."

Women generally brushed their teeth at least once a day. It was found that those who brushed multiple times a day had slimmer percentages of dementia, the 18-year study concluded.

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Posted by Ken at 4:50 AM - Link to this entry  |  Share this entry  |  Print