Not brushing your teeth ‘SHRINKS your brain and increases your dementia risk’, scientists warn
BRUSHING your teeth properly could help ward off dementia, a study suggests.
Gum disease and tooth loss were linked to a greater risk of the deadly disease, Japanese researchers found.
People with poor oral hygiene saw more significant shrinking of the hippocampus — a part of the brain linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr Satoshi Yamaguchi, of Tohoku University in Sendai, said: “Tooth loss and gum disease are very common, so evaluating a potential link with dementia is incredibly important.
“Our study found that these conditions may play a role in the health of the brain area that controls thinking and memory.
“It gives people another reason to take better care of their teeth.”
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Around 900,000 Brits have dementia, with experts predicting the number will rise to 1.6million by 2040.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of the condition, and is thought to be caused by build-ups of proteins in the brain, including tau and amyloid.
Most Brits suffer some form of gum disease, with gingivitis the most common type, affecting around 55 per cent of adults.
It is caused by inflammation of the tissue around the teeth that can cause shrinkage of the gums and loosening of the teeth.
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Previous research has shown the condition can cause inflammation of the brain, which can lead to dementia.
It also causes a greater risk of complications linked to heart disease like angina, heart failure or heart attacks, research shows.
The latest study, published in Neurology, looked at how gum disease affected the size of parts of the organ related to the disease.
Researchers tracked 172 people with an average age of 67 who did not have memory problems at the start.
Participants underwent dental exams, memory tests and brain scans at the start and again four years later to see how oral hygiene affected their risk of dementia.
They found people with gum disease or missing teeth saw quicker shrinking of their brains compared to those with healthy gums.
The drop-off in people people with mild gum disease who had one less tooth was equivalent to nearly one year of brain ageing.
It was equivalent to 1.3 years of brain ageing in people with severe gum disease who were missing a tooth.
Dr Yamaguchi said: “These results highlight the importance of preserving the health of the teeth and not just retaining the teeth.
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“The findings suggest that retaining teeth with severe gum disease is associated with brain atrophy.
“Controlling the progression of gum disease through regular dental visits is crucial, and teeth with severe gum disease may need to be extracted and replaced.”
What are the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease?
In the early stages, the main symptom of Alzheimer's disease is memory lapses.
For example, someone with early Alzheimer's disease may:
- forget about recent conversations or events
- misplace items
- forget the names of places and objects
- have trouble thinking of the right word
- ask questions repetitively
- show poor judgement or find it harder to make decisions
- become less flexible and more hesitant to try new things
There are often signs of mood changes, such as increasing anxiety or agitation, or periods of confusion.
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