There are many signs of aging that are out of your control. You cannot stop your hair from turning gray, nor can you prevent the loss of collagen that naturally occurs in your skin. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything you can do to address them. Hair dye can get your coif back to its original color, and dermal fillers can help restore some of the elasticity to your skin. But what about your memory? You may think memory loss is just another inevitable part of aging, but did you know that you can help prevent it by taking care of your oral health? Here’s how excellent oral hygiene could reduce your risk of memory loss as you age.
Causes of Memory Loss
Memory loss can be caused by a number of things, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, but what causes those things is still largely unknown. However, recent studies have noted a connection between the shrinking of the hippocampus (part of the brain’s limbic system that is responsible for memory, emotion, and learning) and your oral health.
When the hippocampus shrinks, it can cause memory loss as well as the loss of some cognitive abilities.
How Oral Health Affects Memory Loss
Periodontal (gum) disease occurs when your gums become infected with bacteria. This bacterium then enters your bloodstream, and travels throughout the body via your blood. Studies conducted on patients with periodontal disease have found this bacteria in places such as the heart and the brain. In fact, it has even been shown to cause or contribute to heart attacks and stroke. When it infiltrates the hippocampus, it can also cause dangerous shrinkage responsible for memory and cognitive losses.
In the study, researchers noted that the more advanced the case of periodontal disease, the greater the shrinkage of the hippocampus. Even if patients with milder periodontal disease were missing more teeth than other patients with more severe periodontal disease, those with more teeth and more infection had greater shrinkage. Thus, it is believed that this damage is affected less by how many remaining teeth you have and more by the condition of your gums.
How To Reduce Your Risk of Memory Loss Through Oral Health
Thankfully, there are ways to reduce your risk of periodontal disease and hopefully your risk of memory loss. Not smoking, brushing your teeth twice a day, and flossing at least once a day will help keep your gums bacteria free, as will visiting your dentist twice a year for your semi-annual dental exams.
If you already have gum disease, treating this illness can help slow its progression and help keep your teeth, gums, and brain healthy, so don’t think it’s “too late” to act.
While there are no guarantees that maintaining your oral health will protect your brain from memory loss and dementia as you age, it has been shown to help reduce your risk of this type of illness due to oral bacteria. Thus, keeping your teeth and gums healthy can be a safe and effective way to help keep your brain healthy, too!
About Dr. King
Dr. Jasmine King has been practicing dentistry since 2006, with a keen focus on providing a unique dental experience to patients of all ages. She believes that patient comfort and convenience are the keys to helping empower you to take control of your oral health, and strives to create a warm, welcoming environment at Summer Creek Dentistry.
Dr. King is a member of the American Dental Association, Texas Dental Association, and Fort Worth Dental Society.
To schedule an appointment with us, please visit our website or call us at 817-292-7488.