Warning: Poor dental care increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease

It has been established that there is a link between declining memory, concentration, and the number of teeth a person has. Scientists emphasize that it is important to preserve or restore all teeth except wisdom teeth, but particularly the molars hold special significance.

Study conducted by a group of scientists

A research article published in the journal Springer by Spanish and U.S. scientists reveals that the number of teeth a person has is related to their ability to receive, retain, and reproduce certain information, as well as to orient themselves in time, space, and within themselves.

The authors of the article (link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00784-021-04318-4) are seven scientists. During their research, they used two large-scale U.S. national health surveys analyzing the health data of a total of 102,000 individuals. The scientists found that deterioration of memory and other cognitive functions is influenced not only by older age, lower education and socioeconomic status, and higher levels of anxiety and depression, but also by tooth loss. The fewer teeth present in the mouth, the more cognitive decline and difficulty focusing there is.

It was also discovered that early tooth loss (in people under 45 years old) is associated with more pronounced memory and attention concentration impairments, which can be prevented by maintaining good oral hygiene at home and visiting the dentist regularly.

Helps Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

The article explains how mouth and gum diseases are related to mental illnesses. Periodontitis (or periodontal disease) and tooth loss are connected to increasingly common disorders worldwide in recent years, where memory and concentration tend to become worse than expected for a person's age and education level.

Research has shown that tooth loss can influence the development of dementia. Mainly, the bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis plays a key role. It causes periodontitis, which results in bone destruction, leading to tooth loss. If periodontitis is left untreated, the bacteria multiply and can enter the brain through the bloodstream, causing neuronal degeneration, which, upon reaching a critical point, results in Alzheimer’s disease. To prevent Porphyromonas gingivalis infection, it is vital to maintain regular oral hygiene and treat periodontitis if present.

It was observed that people with completely edentulous mouths are at higher risk of experiencing memory problems. Those without any teeth are more frequently and severely affected by memory and confusion problems than those who still have 20 or more teeth.

How is this related to brain function?

Scientists have also used European data. According to this, patients who had their lost teeth restored with implants and prostheses tend to have better cognitive abilities compared to those who remained toothless. Interestingly, the loss of molars has the most negative impact on memory. These teeth are essential for chewing.

Chewing stimulates blood flow to the brain. When teeth are missing, biting is weaker, less blood reaches the brain, and less oxygen is supplied to areas associated with memory and learning. It has been found that the activity of the main chewing muscle, which moves the lower jaw and the molars within it, can activate brain activity. This effect is similar to physical exercise.

Other studies have shown that the deterioration of memory is directly related to the loss of chewing function. Chewing with either natural or prosthetic teeth positively affects memory.

The authors conclude that preserving teeth and maintaining oral health helps retain concentration and a well-functioning memory. It is stated that by preserving natural teeth or restoring them on time, one can prevent the decline associated with cognitive deterioration and maintain independence.

COMMENT

Henrikas Rusilas, oral surgeon of the "Šypsenos Akademija" dental clinics network:

“The Springer” journal published a comprehensive, large-scale study on the connection between lost teeth and declining memory. It summarizes many studies — over 100,000 people were examined. However, the findings are important but not the main reason to restore lost teeth.

Teeth serve several functions. The most important is chewing. Chewing affects our digestion and, consequently, the absorption of nutrients (vitamins and minerals) from food. Loss of one or more teeth disrupts this process.

The second function of teeth is supporting the soft tissues of the facial contour. Our cheeks and jaws rest on the teeth, creating an attractive aesthetic appearance. When people are toothless, their facial shape changes: the chin protrudes, the lower third of the face drops, giving a person an older appearance.

Losing even a single front tooth affects a person’s self-confidence, leading to covering the mouth with their hand or hiding their smile. It harms social life. Previously, tooth loss was somewhat acceptable, but today, due to high aesthetic standards, it is less tolerated.

Thus, losing several teeth without restoring them not only impairs thinking and perception functions but also affects nutrient intake and causes social withdrawal.

Dr. Henrikas Rusilas

Oral surgeon at "Šypsenos Akademija"