Does missing teeth affect brain health?

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However, with age, the risk of oral health problems are increasing, poor oral hygiene, tooth decay, gum disease, tooth loss and so on
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In particular, tooth loss is a common oral health problem among the elderly
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Oral health not only affects the functions of chewing, swallowing, speech, and sensation, but is also related to a series of systemic diseases
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Previous studies have found that periodontal disease and tooth loss can affect the cognitive function of the nervous system
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Recently, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association added new evidence for this
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Research results show that tooth loss in the elderly is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia; as the number of tooth loss increases, the associated risk will increase
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Image source: 123RF Researchers from New York University and other institutions have analyzed 14 published research data.
A total of 34,074 adult participants were included, of which 4,689 had cognitive impairment or dementia
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The researchers counted the participants basic health information (such as age, height, weight), life>
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After adjusting for the effects of other factors, the researchers found that tooth loss was associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in participants.
Compared with participants without tooth loss, the presence of tooth loss and participants had an increased risk of cognitive impairment 48 %, 28% higher risk of dementia is related
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At the same time, as the number of missing teeth increases, the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia will also increase
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Each increase in the number of missing teeth is associated with a 1.
4% increase in the risk of cognitive impairment and a 1.
1% increase in the risk of dementia
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Compared with participants without missing teeth, missing all teeth was associated with a 54% increase in the risk of cognitive impairment and a 40% increase in the risk of dementia
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In addition, the study also found that for people with missing teeth, timely treatment with dentures can help reduce the risk of dementia associated with missing teeth
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Compared with participants without tooth loss, the presence of tooth loss but the use of dentures was associated with a 10% higher risk of dementia in the participants
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The increase in risk was significantly lower than that of participants with missing teeth (28%)
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Image source: 123RF researchers analyzed that tooth loss may increase the risk of cognitive decline through a variety of biological mechanisms
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For example, missing teeth can cause chewing problems, which may lead to nutritional deficiencies, chemical imbalances, or changes in brain function; poor oral hygiene may lead to increased bacteria in the mouth and gum disease, which may cause inflammation and increase β-amyloid deposits in the brain Risk, which in turn leads to a decline in cognitive function; oral microorganisms may also directly infect the brain and colonize there, causing cognitive impairment
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However, the relevant mechanism has not yet been fully clarified, and more research is needed to confirm
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Since the study is an observational study, it only shows the association between missing teeth and increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia, but does not indicate a causal relationship
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Moreover, there are some limitations in the research, which may also affect the results of the research
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The researchers pointed out that the results of the study emphasize the importance of maintaining good oral health and its role in helping to maintain cognitive function
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Among elderly people 65 and older, about 1 in 6 people have lost all their teeth, which may increase their risk of cognitive impairment
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Interventions should be taken in time, such as promoting oral hygiene, encouraging the use of dentures or other treatments, which will help prevent or reduce the risk of cognitive decline associated with tooth loss
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Photo source: 123RF "Oral Health Guidelines for Chinese Residents" pointed out that in order to promote oral health, brush your teeth in the morning and evening, rinse your mouth after meals, and brush your teeth at least twice a day; Mouth cups should be placed separately for each person to avoid cross-infection; promote the use of health-care toothbrushes and pay attention to timely replacement; use dental floss or interdental brush to assist in cleaning the interdental space; choose toothpaste according to the needs of oral health, and advocate the use of fluoride toothpaste to prevent caries; Eat sugar scientifically and drink less sugary drinks; smoking is harmful to oral health, so you should quit smoking as soon as possible
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In addition, oral health checkups should be performed at least once a year; teeth cleaning (washing) should be performed once a year
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When symptoms such as mouth discomfort, pain, bleeding gums, or peculiar smell appear in the mouth, seek medical advice in time; repair missing teeth in time
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At the same time, select medical institutions with qualifications for oral health care and treatment
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,(2021).
Dose-Response Meta-Analysis on Tooth Loss With the Risk of Cognitive Impairment and Dementia.
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, DOI: https://doi.
org/10.
1016/j.
jamda.
2021.
05.
009.
[2] Tooth loss in older adults linked to higher risk of dementia.
Retrieved Oct 14, 2021, from https:// Oral Health Guide for Chinese Residents.
Retrieved Oct 14 ,2021 ,from http:// Disclaimer: WuXi AppTec's content team focuses on introducing global biomedical health research progress
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