A study has found that gum disease can increase the risk of dementia.
A research team at Eastern Finland University analyzed 47 studies to analyze the association between dental health, cognitive function and dementia. The researchers looked at whether the study subjects had periodontitis, tooth loss, deep periodontal pockets (gaps between the gums), and loss of alveolar bone. The risk was 23% higher. Studies have shown that tooth loss is associated with a greater risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
The researchers explain that the bacteria that cause oral disease may increase the risk of dementia. In fact, in 2019, a research team at the University of Bergen in Norway proved through animal experiments that the bacteria that cause periodontitis migrate from the oral cavity to the brain and destroy nerve cells in the brain. The research team concluded that people who suffered tooth loss were slower to sense previously familiar sensations and could not chew food properly, leading to faster brain aging.
“Maintaining periodontal health, including the maintenance of healthy natural teeth, is important in the context of preventing cognitive decline and dementia,” said study author Professor Sam Asher of the Institute of Dentistry, University of East Finland. Emphasizes the importance of maintaining oral health to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. It is necessary to develop specific oral care strategies to prevent dementia.”
Professor Asher emphasized that although the results of this study alone cannot prove that gum disease problems actually cause dementia, timely treatment and prevention of periodontal disease is very important for older people at risk for dementia.
Periodontitis is a bacterial infection of the gums that causes inflammation. Inflammation of the gums can damage the alveolar bone and tissues that support teeth and, in severe cases, can lead to tooth loss.
About 10% to 15% of the world’s adult population suffer from gum inflammation, also known as periodontitis, the researchers note. Although it is easy to think that periodontal disease is usually a problem with gums or teeth, previous studies have shown that periodontal disease can also affect systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The study presents new evidence that poor overall oral health, including gum disease, may decrease popularity and increase the risk of dementia.