After looking at health records from more than 30 million people, researchers have found that people with poor oral health are more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those with healthy mouths.
The study found that the risk is highest in people with periodontal (gum) disease, untreated cavities, or lost any teeth. When age, gender, diabetes, high cholesterol, and other factors didn’t make a difference (i.e., the risk of Alzheimer’s still remained), it was clear that poor dental health was an independent risk factor all by itself.
Simply put, the harmful bacteria in your mouth may travel to your brain and cause irreversible damage to the neurons. We have known that gum disease is connected to heart problems, but now researchers have found that bacteria from inflamed gums also invades the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
It’s true that dementia is hereditary in some cases and you cannot change your genes, but you can certainly take better care of your teeth. Make it a practice to visit your family dentist in Charlotte, NC twice a year for regular dental cleanings.
How Poor Oral Hygiene May Result in Mental Decline
Your dental teeth and brain function might seem like two completely separate systems. But when your gums are red, swollen, bleeding, or there is a lot of plaque on the teeth – i.e., you have pyorrhea, gingivitis or periodontitis – it actively decreases the size of your hippocampus, a part of the brain that helps you store and recall memories. Missing teeth has the same effect.
Hippocampus is also one of the first areas Alzheimer’s tends to damage. In several studies using MRI imaging, people with advanced gum disease or unclean mouth showed noticeable hippocampal shrinkage. Scientists believe this happens due to the chronic inflammation caused by unhealthy gums; it creates a continuous, low-level immune response in the body.
When left untreated, the bacteria from inflammation (in mouth) travel through your bloodstream or nerve pathways, reach the brain, and trigger the same kind of degeneration seen in dementia.
Gum Disease May Contribute to Brain Damage, Memory Loss, and Cognitive Decline
In the analysis mentioned earlier, researchers found traces of Porphyromonas Gingivalis (bacteria that causes chronic periodontitis) and its toxic enzymes (gingipains) inside the brains of people aged 65 or above who had died with Alzheimer’s. In fact, the more gingipain they found, the worse the brain damage was. The bacteria was also present in the spinal fluid of living patients diagnosed with dementia.
No wonder that people with a decade-long history of gum disease are 70% more likely to develop Alzheimer’s! The more you put off treating an oral infection, the more it can wear down the regions of your brain that help you stay sharp.
Even if the bacteria itself doesn’t reach your brain, the inflammation can still do long-term harm. Think about it: when you have untreated gingivitis or periodontitis, your immune system keeps trying to fight it off. Your body comes under this constant stress (aka inflammation) that is bound to affect the rest of your systems. And we know that inflammation negatively impacts the part of the brain linked to mental agility.
So, if you or someone you love is missing a tooth or your gums seem perpetually inflamed, and you are starting to notice any signs of cognitive decline or memory loss, you should see a Charlotte family dentist as soon as possible.
Dental Health Conditions Linked to Higher Risk of Dementia
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the earliest form of gum disease. A little bleeding while brushing your teeth may not seem unusual, but it can build up over time if you don’t get the root cause treated. It is caused by the plaque that builds up on your teeth when you don’t brush them properly. The oral bacteria from gingivitis breaks down the protective barrier between your mouth and bloodstream, and allows it to travel throughout the body (including the brain).
Common symptoms of gingivitis are:
- Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
- Tender gums
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Receding gums
- Soft gums
- Gum discoloration (deep red or purplish)
- A metallic taste in the mouth
- Plaque buildup along the gumline
- Mild gum pain or discomfort
- Sensitive teeth due to gum exposure
- Gums that appear puffy or bulbous
Periodontitis
Periodontitis is caused by bacteria (P. gingivalis) that live deep in the gum pockets. When you chew food or brush your teeth, it is stirred up and able to enter your bloodstream, from where it can reach the brain. It wouldn’t be problem if these bacteria didn’t release brain-damaging toxic proteins.
The toxins can destroy neurons (brain cells) and contribute to a systemic inflammation that compromises your body’s natural ability to protect the brain from harmful substances. Both toxins and inflammation from periodontitis are known to cause the death of brain cells. The longer you have periodontitis or gum disease, the more your brain will atrophy.
Advanced periodontal disease is also the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. In addition to the tooth itself, you could lose the bone and tissue around that tooth, which further increases the risk of dementia.
People who carry certain genes, such as APOE ε4 or a risk gene of Alzheimer’s may be more sensitive to the effects of oral bacteria. That means gum disease could push their brain into decline faster than in others.
So, if you have noticed that your gums have become more red/purple, they are tender to the touch, you feel pain when chewing, or any other symptoms of periodontal disease, do your future self a favor and visit your dentist right away.
Loss of Teeth
Did you know that chewing is a form of natural brain exercise? When you perform the action of chewing, it activates the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, parts responsible for memory, focus, learning, and decision-making.
So when you lose a molar or two, you don’t chew as effectively, and that reduced stimulation may contribute to a decline in brain activity. Even more so if you are in your golden years and the neural plasticity is already slowing down.
Not to mention, biting down becomes harder if you are missing even one tooth. As a result, you may avoid eating raw vegetables, salads, fruits, nuts and seeds, whole grains, and other foods that are packed with fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. Cue in nutritional deficiencies, raising the risk of neurodegenerative disorders even more.
Dental Caries (Cavities)
When a cavity reaches all the way to the center of the tooth, where the nerves and blood vessels live (known as pulp), it may advance into a serious infection (e.g., gingivitis or periodontitis). The bacteria that create the cavity-induced infection is particularly dangerous because it seeps into the blood through several micro-sized gum injuries, and then it may move to the brain.
In some cases, the S. mutans (the main cause of decay) might irritate the nerves that connect your brain to the rest of your face, jaw, and upper body. Any long-term inflammation or infection in these areas could potentially interfere with how your brain and nerves communicate. If you have been thinking of cavities as an annoying but isolated condition, think again.
Embrace these Dental Hygiene Habits for Overall Health
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to brush your teeth twice a day. Make sure to brush gently (but thoroughly) for a full two minutes. Tilt the brush at a 45-degree angle and clean along the gumline as well.
- Floss every night before you go to bed. You can use a dental floss, interdental brush, or water flosser. Choose whatever works for you, but do it at least once a day.
- Rinse with an ADA-approved antibacterial mouthwash to help kill any inflammation-causing bacteria.
- If your gums bleed when you brush or floss, it may not be because you brushed too hard. Schedule a dental checkup and ask your dentist to check for early-stage gum disease.
- Cut down on candies, chocolates, cakes, pastries, sugary breakfast cereals, sodas, energy drinks, white bread, store-bought chips, and other refined carbs.
- Never rush your meals as chewing stimulates blood flow to the brain. If you are missing any tooth or wearing a poorly-fitted set of dentures, speak to your dentist.
- Get your teeth and mouth professionally cleaned by a dentist at least twice a year. They will not only remove the tartar (that you cannot reach with regular brushing), but also spot any early warning signs of decay.
- If your mouth feels dry frequently (from medication, age, or stress), use saliva-stimulating lozenges or sprays, chew sugar-free gum with xylitol, and drink at least 6-8 glasses of water per day. Having enough saliva is important for washing away the bad bacteria and neutralizing acid.
- Quit smoking if you haven’t already. It reduces the blood flow to both the mouth and brain.
- If someone in our family has dementia, you may be interested in taking a saliva-based oral DNA test. It might help you identify any bacteria hiding deep in your gums that could later contribute to Alzheimer’s or other diseases.
Finally, be diligent about visiting your family dentist in Charlotte, NC twice a year for a thorough dental exam and professional teeth cleaning. These best practices can help you maintain a healthy mouth and better overall health for years to come.
Also Read: Chew on This: How Proper Dental Care Impacts Your Diet
