According to a recent study in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, there is a chance people with poor oral hygiene or elevated gum (or periodontal) disease could possibly be at greater risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
At my Woodlands dental office, we always stress the importance of keeping teeth and gums healthy because of the potential effects on a patient’s overall health too!
There’s still more research that needs to be conducted about the link between gum disease and dementia. As of this year, there’s still no definitive proof that gum disease causes dementia or that they are directly related. The fact is — gum disease bacteria was found, during research, in brain tissue samples taken from patients with dementia, but the bacteria was not present in non-dementia patients.
Bacteria is the reason for the concern that gum disease could be linked to more serious illnesses such as dementia. Here’s why:
At my dental office in The Woodlands, we want to recognize patients already struggling with dementia-related conditions and their caregivers. It’s important to also remember individuals with these illnesses are at an increased risk for tooth decay and gum disease, due to less focus on personal grooming and side effects from medication.
Accepting new patients from The Woodlands, Spring, Conroe and beyond.