Your Oral Health Might be Determining Your Alzheimer’s Risk
Does the thought of Alzheimer’s disease scare you? If your answer is yes, we urge you to take good care of your oral health. Specifically, the health of your gums. Because a new study demonstrates even stronger evidence for the correlation between oral health and Alzheimer’s disease.
Dementia is the collective name given to a number of medical symptoms seen when your brain stops functioning properly, causing setbacks in remembering, thinking, speaking or doing daily chores. So, dementia is in fact not a specific disease itself. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease (AD) but other diseases and conditions may also lead to these symptoms. For example, damaged blood vessels in the brain lead to reduced blood flow to brain cells, causing a condition called vascular dementia. And sometimes, dementia symptoms occur due to build-up of proteins inside nerve cells. These clumps, called Lewy bodies, interfere with the nerve cell function. They are also responsible for the movement problems in Parkinson’s disease.
The onset of dementia can be tracked with some of the following early symptoms:
Forgetting recent events Difficulty in remembering names and faces Asking the same questions repeatedly over short intervals Difficulties of concentration or simple decision making Mood changes such as getting easily sad or losing interest in things Balance and/or walking problems Uncertainty about date and time Getting lost in unfamiliar places Putting things in the wrong place Difficulty in finding the right words or understanding the words others say
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Alzheimer’s is usually seen over the age of 65, although it can also affect younger people. Scientists are yet to be sure about what exactly triggers the onset of this disease, but the correlation between Alzheimer’s and the build-up of two proteins in the brain keeps solidifying with more evidence.
These proteins are the types called amyloid and tau. Amyloid is a type of abnormal protein that is synthesised in bone marrow and can be deposited in almost any kind of tissue. High levels of its build-up in tissues can lead to organ failure, and its build-up in the brain tissue is thought to be closely related to Alzheimer’s. Tau proteins, on the other hand, are in charge of stabilising certain cytoskeleton structures called microtubules and their highest amounts are found in nerve cells. When these faulty, they fail to support the microtubules, leading to degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Alzheimer’s is one of these diseases.
Let’s get down to the link with your oral health…
Last week, the presence of a bacterium called Porphyromonas gingivalis – the main cause of chronic gum disease was confirmed in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. A team of international researchers showed in their study that the oral infection caused by this bacterium reached the brains of mice and caused amyloid build-up in their brain tissues. They also encountered the DNA of this bacterium in the spinal fluids of AD patients, along with gingipains -toxic bacterial enzymes- in their brains. Moreover, treatment with drugs targeting these toxic enzymes proved to be successful in preventing amyloid accumulation and reduced neurodegeneration. Quite promising, don’t you think?
Previous studies had also found a link between P. gingivalis and Alzheimer’s, but it was not certain if the bacterium played a direct role in the disease’s development. But this time, scientists have strong evidence of correlation in their hands, due to the bacterium’s influence on amyloid build-up. Of course, this doesn’t mean that P. gingivalis is the sole cause of AD. Researchers also underline this fact… and another fact: For the time being, the above-mentioned drug has only been shown effective in mice. However, considering no new approach in dementia treatment has been tried in the past 15 years, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the data is definitely worth the emphasis.
Just Alzheimer’s?
Oral health is, in fact, important in every period of your life, and closely related to your overall health. To begin with, you need a healthy mouth to be able to feed yourself properly. The importance of healthy teeth, healthy gums, and a fresh breath are also inarguable in terms of social and psychological well-being. A number of diseases including AIDS, coeliac disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, blood disorders and certain types of cancer reveal themselves through their effects on oral health.
Bacteria in the mouth may cause infections in other body parts, especially when the immune system is weak or suppressed due to certain diseases or treatments. For example, endocarditis, the inflammation of the inner lining of the heart may occur when bacteria in the mouth spread through the bloodstream and attach to damaged areas in the heart tissue. Periodontitis (gum disease) is linked to premature birth and low birth weight. Heart disease and clogged arteries are also thought to be linked to inflammations and infections stemming from oral bacteria.
Naturally, not all of the bacteria in your mouths is harmful and the harmful ones do not just freely enter your bloodstream. But they can find an entrance as a result of gum disease, mouth ulcers, or some dental treatments. Certain diseases like diabetes and AIDS, some treatments including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and even some medications can suppress the immune system. This results in an overall lowering in the strength of your body’s defence mechanisms, including your mouth, and increasing the susceptibility of your gums to infection. Regular oral care and good oral hygiene have been shown to help in keeping diabetes under control and in increasing the success of chemotherapy. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can also have negative effects on oral health.
We should not ignore the importance of saliva. Your saliva is one of the major natural insurgents of your body against pathogens like bacteria and viruses. Not only it washes your mouth and neutralises bacterial acids, but it also consists of several antibodies and enzymes warding off pathogens. The fungus Candida albicans is one of the organisms that your saliva combats. This naturally occurring fungus is kept under control by histatin, a protein in the saliva. If it does not function properly, candida proliferates beyond control and causes diseases.
To protect your oral health…
We all know the standard suggestions: avoid acidic and sugary foods, brush your teeth daily, use dental floss, keep away from tobacco, have your teeth and gums checked regularly… Additionally, there are a few things that don’t come to mind right away.
For example, do you know how often you need to change your toothbrush? If you are one of those regular brushers, who brush their teeth at least twice a day, experts say you need to change your brush every 3-4 months. Because its bristles get spoiled and fail to provide proper cleaning AND bacterial growth occurs in time. If you’re keeping your toothbrush in plastic containers or traveling caps, you should change that habit. Because such covered and moist environments help the bacteria grow and reproduce enthusiastically. Another small advice, keep your toothbrush as far from the toilet as possible. We’re just saying…
A balanced diet including a sufficient amount of fruits and veggies is also very important for your oral health. Onions, spinach, carrots, apples, celery, and almonds are very potent teeth cleaners and gum protectors, especially when eaten raw. Besides their vitamin and mineral content, they require a lot of chewing. Chewing means a scrubbing movement on the teeth and an increase in saliva release. Two birds with a single stone! Dairy products like milk, yogurt and cheese also strengthen your teeth with their calcium and keep the pH balance in your mouth due to their casein content. Cheese, in particular, is very fast in raising pH levels in your mouth and neutralising the acidity that is harmful to your teeth.
Ultimately, do not neglect your oral hygiene and oral health for a healthy life. Especially in times when your immune system needs a helping hand.
REFERENCES
- 1. https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/about-dementia/types-of-dementia/
- 2. https://www.uoflnews.com/releases/new-science-bacterial-pathogen/
- 3. http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/5/1/eaau3333
- 4. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/dental/art-20047475
- 5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3270454/
- 6. https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/basics/nutrition-and-oral-health/healthy-foods-list-seven-best-foods-for-your-teeth-0214
- 7. https://www.dentistryiq.com/articles/2013/06/cheese-may-prevent-cavities.html