Scientists: Proper Dental Care Lowers Alzheimer’s Risks
Our dental health and our dental care routines are strongly linked to our general health, and those people who take care about their teeth properly (brush and floss daily, and visit their dentist on a regular basis) always have better health, lower risks of infections and cardiovascular diseases, reduced risks of psychological disorders and obesity.
Good dental care is a key factor to excellent overall health and longevity. Recently, the findings of one more related study were published proving that fact. According to the newest conclusions of an expert team at the University of California, those aging people who spend lots of efforts for keeping their gums and teeth healthy have much lower chances to suffer from dementia-like brain disorders, including reduced Alzheimer’s risks.
The scientists analyzed the data on over 5,000 aging people of the USA collected for over 18-year period of time. Certainly, dental care and dental care routines of the participants were the main points of focus of the study. It turned out that there are actually strong links between good dental care habits and mental health of the elderly. The experts reported that those participants of the study who reported brushing their teeth less than once a day had up to 65 per cent higher dementia-like brain disorders and Alzheimer’s risks compared to those aging people who had a habit of daily brushing and flossing their teeth, whether the teeth are natural or not. It was found important that proper dental care also allows enjoying reduced risks of inflammations caused by gum disease related bacteria.
Annlia Paganini-Hill, one of the study leaders and an expert from the Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of California commented on the findings of her research group as the following: “Not only does the state of your mind predict what kind of oral health habits you practice, it may be that your oral health habits influence whether or not you get dementia.” California University experts suggest that the connections between good dental care and reduced Alzheimer’s risks are linked to the effects of gum disease related bacteria. They are convinced that improper dental care leads to excessive growth and development of this kind of bacteria which can get into the person’s brain, initiate inflammation processes and cause dementia-like brain disorders.
The findings were recently published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society and evoked numerous reactions from other experts’ side. Some found these conclusions very interesting and important for modern society, at the same time some experts underlined that the findings of California experts should not be considered valid since there were no dental examinations and close analysis of dental health of the participants. Neglecting such factors as the number of teeth or the condition of teeth can not make good dental care a sufficient factors form Alzheimer’s risks reduction. It is a known fact that such things as improper nutrition and head injury play a key role in dementia-like brain disorders development. However, a lot of specialists value the findings quite high. Amber Watts, dementia expert from the University of Kansas said: “I would be reluctant to draw the conclusion that brushing your teeth would definitely prevent you from getting Alzheimer’s disease.”
Posted: August 24th, 2012 under Miscellaneous.
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