Dementia Risk Can Be Reduced By Brushing And Flossing
December 18, 2009 by Christian Goodman
Filed under Alzheimer's Disease
According to a research from Columbia university brushing and flossing does not only keep you mouth and heart clean and healthy it also keep your mind sharp. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are found to be developed by people who have bad oral hygiene and bleeding gums. Memory problems increased with the severity of the increase in gingivitis.
The participants of the study are aged above 60 and they were put up to many different memory testes. The study was recently published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. The researcher researched over 2,300 men and women to find out the bacteria that cause periodontitis, or periodontal disease. It is actually a severe form of gum disease, which makes the teeth loose by receding the gum.
The participants with the highest levels of gum disease-causing bacteria were three times as likely to have trouble recalling a three-word sequence, compared to participants with the lowest levels of gum disease bacteria. Those with high levels of bacteria were also twice as likely to fail on a memory test based on mental arithmetic.
From the study it is also founded that people with gum disease are likely to suffer from the narrowing of arteries and this will in turn cause high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. The researcher also concluded that “A growing body of evidence supports exploration of a possible association between poor oral health and dementia” . At this time, they are not sure why gum disease is linked to dementia. However, the bacteria that lurk in our oral cavities can damage arteries – and arterial damage has been linked to dementia. Incidentally, other studies show that poor oral hygiene can contribute to heart disease, diabetes, and low sperm counts!
Inflammation and damage to arteries are caused by bacteria associated with periodontal disease and in turn this will result in Alzheimer’s disease. The immune system affected by the bacteria and these bacteria enters through the mouth. Immune cells attack the foreign invaders, causing inflammation. Over time, this inflammation can damage arterial walls. These attack could lead to dementia and can also create problems related to cardiovascular system. Blood carries nutrients to our organs and carries toxic substances away. When the flow of blood is impeded to a certain organ, then problems begin to arise with that organ. Memory problem and other forms of dementia can caused in the case of brain.
There also dental irrigation devices, these devices can reach pockets that cannot be reached by brushing or flossing. By following a regular routine of dementia prevention process you can one can reduce the risk of dementia. These easy exercises increase the blood flow to the brain and improves the cardiovascular fitness too. A sharp mind can be achieved by a healthy flow of blood to the brain. The point that is made here is do not forget to brush and floss your teeth regularly and especially at night.
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