We all have been hearing about how you’re your oral health can affect your systemic health for decades now. Periodontal disease has been shown to affect your cardiovascular health and cause up to 5 time’s great chance of strokes.
We all know someone who has developed dementia and we are all too familiar with how much suffering can accompany this horrible condition. And, it is on the rise. Between 2000 and 2015, deaths from Alzheimer’s disease as recorded on death certificates increased 123 percent. But, can it have anything to do with dental health?
Recently a study was done in Japan following 1566 elderly in a single community, and the findings were fascinating. It was shown that people with fewer than 20 teeth had over a 60% greater risk of dementia, and that having greater than 20 teeth significantly reduces the chances of getting Alzheimer’s disease.
“Our findings emphasize the clinical importance of dental care and treatment, especially in terms of maintenance of teeth from an early age for reducing the future risk of dementia,” said Dr. Tomoyuki Ohara, co-author of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society study.
This is the first study of its kind, so further research may be needed, but at Dillon Family Dentistry we are convinced that excellent dental health has an extremely positive effect on overall body health. If you are having any dental issues or are overdue for a regular dental exam, please call us right away at610-525-5497.
