A group of dental practitioners from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill were determined to learn whether oral health had any connection with cognitive skills. Following a study, the researchers found a possible connection. For every tooth loss or when suffering from gum disease, people seem to suffer a loss of cognitive function. The findings of the study was published in “The Journal of the American Dental Association.”

The researchers gathered data from 6,000 participants aged 45 to 64. Each volunteer was evaluated for the condition of their oral health. Additionally, each was required to take tests that revealed their memory and cognitive skills. The massive amount of data gathered required two years to analyze.

Basic Findings

Of all the study participants, nearly 800 no longer had any remaining natural teeth. Approximately 1,200 of the individuals had fewer than 20 of their remaining natural teeth. More than 700 of the volunteers had visible gum bleeding and oral infection problems.

The cognitive tests were designed to evaluate word fluency, word recall, and number skills. Individuals who had no natural teeth scored lower than all of the other volunteers. Individuals who had substantial tooth loss and gum disease scored lower than the participants who had most or all of their teeth and no evidence of gum disease.

Correlations Between Dental Health and Cognitive Ability

After gathering all of the pertinent subject information, the researchers studied the data in an attempt to find possible connections between oral health and cognition. Poor diet may have contributed to the poor oral health in many of the study participants. Unhealthy dietary choices might have included foods high in fat and sugar while being void of vital nutrients and antioxidants, which then would contribute to cognitive loss.

Conversely, poor oral health may have forced the volunteers to limit food choices that were not especially healthy. Another theory involved the possibility that untreated gum disease, inflammation and infection spread through the blood stream, to the brain and caused problems with thinking ability. General systemic inflammation might have contributed to both poor oral health and cognitive loss.

Cautionary Tale 

While there seems to be a relationship between oral health and mental ability, more information is needed to determine the factors that created the cause and effect along with any long-term consequences. However, the public benefits from knowing that taking care of their teeth and gums throughout the duration of their lives may also ensure healthy long-term cognitive health.

Oral cancer is a serious condition categorized by a wide variety of symptoms and locales within the mouth. Cancer begins as a cellular problem in which reproduction experiences some sort of malfunction, either in the form of extraneous cell growth or cells that don’t die as they should. In either case, the buildup of these damaged cells creates a growth called a tumor. Tumors can be either benign, in which case they aren’t a threat to life and can often be removed with ease, or they can be malignant, in which case they can spread to other areas and constitute a legitimate threat to your health.

Risk Factors

There are certain activities that increase the likelihood of a patient developing oral cancer. These risk factors include the use of tobacco products, which isn’t limited to smoking. Chewing tobacco is just as harmful, if not more so, than smoking tobacco. Continue reading →

Every time you leave the dentist, you are encouraged to schedule a six month appointment; however, you may be one of the many people who avoid going to the dentist regularly, if at all. There are many reasons why people avoid the dentist, and none of them are beneficial for your dental hygiene. It is important that you always keep your gums and teeth healthy and clean. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that one out of seven adults living in the United States have untreated tooth decay and gum disease. Even with statistics such as these, many people will avoid visiting the dentist, for various reasons.
Fear

The most common reason why people avoid the dentist is due to fear. You may be afraid of being reprimanded by your dentist. If you have chosen a friendly dentist, he will always make you feel comfortable, regardless if you have missed appointments or not. Keep in mind that when your oral care provider goes over the reasons why you should not skip out on appointments, this is in your best interest.  Continue reading →