Nobody likes the idea of suffering from dementia one day. It’s completely understandable. We’re talking about a dreadful condition that has the potential of bringing an intelligent and educated person to the level of a one-year-old child.
Dementia has many forms, and Alzheimer’s is the most common one. The medical world still struggles to find cures for dementia. But until that, we can all do our best to live a healthy and balanced life.
Avoid brushing your teeth daily significantly increases the risk of dementia
According to BestLife, a new study published a few years ago in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society claims that not brushing your teeth every day will significantly increase your chances of developing dementia someday in your life. Data from 5,468 older adults during an 18-year period was analyzed, and the conclusion is staggering. Those who said that they don’t brush their teeth every day had a 22 to 65 percent higher risk of dementia compared to those who brush their teeth daily.
But in fact, the logic behind the conclusion is pretty simple. Certain bacteria that grow in the mouth of those having poor hygiene can lead to developing forms of dementia, even Alzheimer’s. Periodontal disease will first kick in, leading to dementia later in life.
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) explains, as quoted by BestLife:
Porphyromonas gingivalis is the most common culprit of gum disease. In fact, a recent study suggests that plaques of beta-amyloid protein, a major hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, may be produced as a response to this infection.
Unfortunately, periodontal disease is not uncommon at all, at least when it comes to the US. Many adults suffer from it, and that must trigger an alarm for each of us. Brushing our teeth every day is extremely important, and not just for protection against dementia.