How Dental Cleaning Can Protect Against Brain Diseases: Study Finds Link between Teeth Care and Memory Health

2023-07-16 15:12:49

A recent study from Tohoku University in Japan confirmed that paying attention to dental cleaning avoids brain diseases related to memory.

The study found that the loss of a tooth in patients with gum disease had an effect on the hippocampus, a memory-related region located in the medial temporal part on both sides of the human brain.

The scientists also showed that the number of teeth and the amount of gum disease were linked to changes in the left hippocampus of the brain, the region associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

People with mild gum disease who had fewer teeth were associated with a faster rate of contraction of the left hippocampus, equivalent to almost a year of brain aging.

And for people with severe gum disease, having an extra tooth was associated with faster brain shrinkage in the same region of the brain, equivalent to 1.3 years of brain aging.

The results of the study indicated that caring for teeth with severe gum disease is associated with brain atrophy.

“Controlling the progression of gum disease through regular dental visits is crucial,” said Satoshi Yamaguchi of Tohoku University.

“Tooth loss and periodontal disease – which is inflammation of the tissues around the teeth – can cause retraction of the gums and loosening of the teeth, so assessing the potential link to dementia is very important,” Yamaguchi added.

It is worth noting that Alzheimer’s disease – the most common form of dementia – affects cognitive function, memory and behavior, and can make it difficult to perform daily activities and maintain an individual’s independence, leading to frustration, confusion, anxiety and loss of self-esteem.


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