Brushing your teeth regularly may reduce your dementia risk, new study suggests

Alzheimers Research UK explain ‘what is dementia?’ The number of dementia cases is set to triple worldwide to more than 150 million by 2050. With no cure in sight, research continues to focus on lifestyle changes and preventative measures that could keep the mind sharp. While what you eat plays a crucial role, your dental hygiene could also be a deciding factor. Previously, an international study of more than a million people found those with poor oral hygiene were 21 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Now, new research, published in the journal Neurology, suggests that brushing your teeth could boost the brain and reduce your risk of dementia. READ MORE Dentist shares five signs you’re not brushing your teeth correctly Brushing your teeth regularly may reduce your dementia risk, new study suggests. People who practised good dental hygiene had more neurons in the hippocampus, which plays an important role in memory. On the other hand, gum disease and tooth loss were linked with less grey matter and declining mental health. Gum disease is triggered by inflammation of tooth-supporting tissues and it affects about one in seven adults. According to the research team, the findings have clinical implications as regular visits to the dentist may help prevent the mind-robbing condition. Gum disease as well as missing teeth were associated with a faster rate of brain shrinkage. Lead author Dr Satoshi Yamaguchi, of Tohoku University in Japan, said: “Tooth loss and gum disease, which is inflammation of the tissue around the teeth that can cause shrinkage of the gums and loosening of the teeth, are very common. “So evaluating a potential link with dementia is incredibly important. ‘Our study found these conditions may play a role in the health of the brain area that controls thinking and memory – giving people another reason to take better care of their teeth.’ The research team looked at 172 Japanese participants with an average age of 67 who did not have memory problems at the outset. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info From a healthy diet to exercise, there are many ways to cut dementia risk. The study subjects underwent dental exams, memory tests, and brain scans to measure the volume of the hippocampus. For each participant, the researchers then counted the number of teeth and checked for gum disease by looking at periodontal probing depth, which is a measurement of the gum tissue. Healthy readings are from one to three millimetres while mild gum disease involves probing depths of three or four mms in several areas. Furthermore, severe gum disease is measured at five or six mms as well as more bone loss. Trending