{"id":67,"date":"2024-06-26T20:06:43","date_gmt":"2024-06-26T20:06:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theelegantdentistry.com\/blog\/?p=67"},"modified":"2024-06-26T20:06:44","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T20:06:44","slug":"reducing-your-risk-of-alzheimers-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theelegantdentistry.com\/blog\/reducing-your-risk-of-alzheimers-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"Reducing Your Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease Through Oral Health"},"content":{"rendered":"
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With an estimated 6.7 million Americans suffering from Alzheimer\u2019s disease, there is an increasingly urgent interest in learning how to prevent this debilitating illness. While the exact cause of Alzheimer\u2019s disease is unknown, researchers believe there is a combination of contributing factors, including age, genetics, environment, and lifestyle. But while many of these cannot be helped, there is at least one way to reduce your risk, and it\u2019s easier than you might think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Alzheimer’s Disease and Oral Health<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your mouth is the gateway to your body, and as such it is important to keep it healthy. It is responsible for allowing nourishment into your body by eating and drinking. It is also an easy way for germs and bacteria to enter the body, including a bacteria called Porphyromonas gingivalis, a dangerous bacterium that has been shown to travel from the mouth to the brain, where it then releases enzymes called gingipains. These enzymes, it is is believed, destroy the nerve cells, causing memory loss and ultimately, Alzheimer’s disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The good news when it comes to Porphyromonas gingivalis is that it can be somewhat controlled by good oral health habits<\/a>. This includes brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing at least once a day, and attending your semi-annual dental exams. Keeping the gums free of infections like gingivitis and periodontitis is also important in keeping this and other harmful bacteria at bay, so if either of these conditions is present, regular trips to the dentist can help treat them and prevent them from worsening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oral Health and An Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer\u2019s disease, caring for oral health is of paramount importance. Not only will this type of preventive maintenance likely become more of a challenge in Alzheimer\u2019s patients, but it can also make their symptoms worse and can even potentially accelerate them. Thus, be sure to pay extra attention to their teeth and gums, even if they wear dentures or dental implants or if they have no natural or prosthetic teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other Ways to Reduce Your Alzheimer’s Risk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In addition to maintaining your oral health, other ways to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease include<\/p>\n\n\n\n