Does Oral Health Play a Role in Controlling Alzheimer’s Disease?
Several studies have shown that various oral conditions like swelling of the gums and missing teeth increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia is a condition that has long been associated with oral health in addition to some other memory-related problems. Another study conducted at West Virginia University has revealed that memory loss might be connected with gum disease.
In fact keeping your gums and teeth healthy not only prevents some serious mental disorders but also promotes your cardiovascular health. No sound evidence is available as of yet to support this theory, however, many scientists believe that microorganisms found in the mouth might be the cause of serious mental disorders including Alzheimer’s disease.
Since Alzheimer’s is an age-related disease, which progresses with time, it has been found to be linked with the inflammatory processes taking place inside the body. This theory is well established through various findings. Gum disease is characterized by inflammation and therefore scientists have started to believe it might be linked with memory loss in its early stages. Doctors are conducting studies in which they try to reduce inflammation in the mouth and then observe any changes in the blood. This way there is a possibility of developing a preventive treatment for Alzheimer’s and other mental disorders.
When we say that two diseases are related to each other, the reciprocal of it is usually true as well. This means that people who do not take care of their oral health are the ones who suffer from memory problems. They either do not remember their appointments with the dentist or forget to take supplements or brush their teeth properly to avoid oral conditions. As a result, both diseases slowly progress and become worse with the passage of time. Moreover, their effect on one another is also increased due to negligence on part of the patient.
It is also an established fact that in order to be generally healthy and fit, you have to have good oral health. People who take care of oral hygiene are at a reduced risk of developing not only Alzheimer’s and other mental conditions but also heart disease and stroke. Moreover, gum disease has also been found to be linked with diabetes, and those who take preventive measures to reduce the chances of gum disease are also reducing chances of developing diabetes. So, all in all we can safely say that oral health does play a role in controlling and preventing Alzheimer’s disease.
Taking care of your oral health for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease is not very difficult. All you have to do is brush your teeth twice a day and visit the dentist regularly to diminish chances of developing gum disease. As a result of this precautionary measure, the risk of becoming a victim of memory loss later on in life will greatly reduce. There is a need to spread awareness among people so that they not only take steps to prevent oral complications but also more serious and irreversible conditions including Alzheimer’s disease.
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