Can brushing your teeth affect your memory?

An ongoing oral hygiene routine can be important not only for keeping your teeth and gums healthy, but also for your own health. Brain healthAccording to a recent study published in the journal Neurology.

Research has demonstrated an association between oral health and a decrease in oral health Hippocampusan area of ​​the brain essential for memory that tends to deteriorate in people with Alzheimer’s disease.

The 172 participants — with an average age of 67 and no memory problems at the start of the research — underwent dental exams, memory tests and brain scans at baseline. The same was done four years later, in order to count each participant’s number of teeth and the presence (or absence) of periodontal disease.

Fewer teeth and more periodontitis were associated with faster contraction of the left hippocampusa relationship that is evident in both mild and severe periodontitis, suggesting that treating the condition may have a positive effect on brain health.

“The results suggest that tooth retention with severe periodontal disease is associated with brain atrophy,” says the dentist. Satoshi Yamaguchifrom Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan.

“It is critical to control the progression of gum disease through regular visits to the dentist, and teeth with severe gum disease may need to be extracted and replaced with appropriate dentures.”

Tooth loss can be beneficial

Surprisingly, the results raised the possibility that, in some cases, It may be helpful to lose the diseased tooth That threaten oral health, in order to protect the integrity of the gums and brain.

However, the researchers point out that The study did not prove a direct relationship between gingivitis and the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Although a link is established between the two.

“The results highlight the importance of taking care of dental health, not just maintaining it,” says Yamaguchi. “Tooth loss and periodontal disease, which is inflammation of the tissues around the teeth that can cause gum recession and enlarged teeth, are very common. Therefore, analyzing the potential link to dementia is very important.”

Previous studies have shown that chronic peripheral inflammation can increase the risk of dementia and progression to hippocampal atrophy, leading to brain shrinkagethe dentist admits to Newsweek.