People usually focus on their dental hygiene because they want a beautiful smile. Poor dental hygiene can be embarrassing. After all, puffy and inflamed gums and bad breath aren’t the most desirable traits in a person.
If you’re like most people, you stay on top of your dental hygiene because you want your teeth to stay clean and sparkling. Not to mention, minty breath is much more conducive to a healthy social life.
You’ve probably heard that the health of your entire body is connected. For example, poor spinal health can lead to knee problems and even headaches. The same goes for your dental health’s connection with other parts of the body.
When it comes to dental hygiene, you’ve probably been warned about the perils of gum disease and tooth decay — especially if you’ve suffered from tooth loss in the past. Not brushing and flossing can lead to a host of dangerous diseases.
The Connection Between Alzheimer’s Disease and Gum Disease
Studies show a link between gum disease and a variety of other diseases. There’s a good chance that bacterial growth in the mouth spread to the other parts of the body, leading to chronic inflammation and disease.
Alzheimer’s Disease is linked to gum disease. After 20 years of collecting data, a study in 2010 by New York University found a link between gum disease and Alzheimer’s Disease.
Alzheimer’s Disease affects about 3 million people in the US alone. Essentially, Alzheimer’s occurs when brain cell connections degenerate, causing the sufferer to forget important mental functions and lose their long and short-term memory.
In one study, researchers followed subjects from the age of 50-70 years old over a 20-year span. Another study in 2013 compared brain samples between Alzheimer’s patients and those without the disease. They discovered that that gum disease is linked to lower cognitive function.
Beautiful Smiles in New York City
Taking care of your teeth and gums will have a positive effect on your entire body. Take care of your body by reducing inflammation and taking care of your dental health.
Dr. Marc J. Beshar wants you to give you the smile you’ve been dreaming about. Call today if you’re interested in any of our cosmetic services such as professional whitening, veneers, or dental implants. We can’t wait to meet you.