Dementia: Why You Should Clean Your Teeth Twice Daily
A healthy mouth is a healthy brain
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Brushing your teeth may be a daily routine, but what you might not know is that it can affect your chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease in the future.
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that we brush regularly because of the severe consequences of failing to do so.
Yet, 13% of Americans fail to brush their teeth at least twice a day, with two percent admitting they don’t brush at all.
Some go days without brushing.
There’s bad news: Apart from the resulting mouth odor, stained teeth, decay, gum diseases, and other long-term periodontal diseases, failing to clean your teeth and keep good oral hygiene increases your risk of dementia.
Clean Teeth and Your Brain
If you practice good oral hygiene throughout your life, there’s an excellent chance your teeth will be healthy through your older years.
Recent studies show that the benefits of taking care of your teeth are more profound as you get older.
Because it can keep dementia at bay.
Dementia is a brain disease that’s common among older people. It causes loss of cognitive functions and interferes with the ability to carry out your daily activities.
The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, which accounts for 60–70% of all dementia cases.
And according to a WHO report, more people will be diagnosed with Alzheimer-related dementia by 2050.
Lifestyle factors such as smoking can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. However, lifestyle like how regularly you brush your teeth has been found to contribute.
According to a study, researchers from the University of California tracked 5,000 plus elderly patients aged 52 and above.
Participants were all well-educated and affluent. At the start of the study, they didn’t have dementia when they were questioned about their dental health habits, the condition of their teeth, etc.
After 18 years, from 1992–2010, the researchers interviewed the participants and…
