Earlier this month, your dentist in The Woodlands talked about how your dentist can potentially spot pregnancy early due to issues and inflammation in your gums. As it turns out, we came across another recent article discussing periodontal or gum disease, highlighting recent studies released over the past few years where there’s been an association between gum disease and dementia.
Let’s explore some more about their findings.
What the Studies Show and What Your Woodlands Dentist Wants You to Know
One study focused on researchers in South Korea and the data they collected from over 262,000 adults over the age of 50. They conducted their research with patients for a decade and published their findings in 2019 in the Journal of American Geriatrics Society. The researchers concluded that people who were experiencing chronic gum health issues were up to six percent more likely to develop dementia compared to patients with no trace of periodontal disease. A bigger study occurred in 2020 and the findings were published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease focusing on an oral bacteria called Porphyromonas gingivalis which commonly leads to gum disease. This team of researchers found that the antibodies your body makes to fight off this type of bacteria along with existing infections could actually lead to a heightened risk for Alzheimer’s disease, which is one of the more common forms of dementia. Your Woodlands dentist couldn’t agree more with this correlation. Now you know why we and our dental hygiene team are so adamant about keeping your gums and teeth healthy!
Do I Have Gum Disease?
Gum disease can be tricky to diagnose because, in its earliest stages, it could not even appear in the form of any obvious symptoms. This is why you should keep up with regular visits to our Woodlands dental offices so your dentist can always be on the lookout for any changes or something suspicious. Some of the more obvious signs that there are issues with your periodontal health include:
- Bleeding gums during brushing
- Redness
- Swelling
- Bad breath
- Strange taste in your mouth
- Loose teeth
- Changes to your bite
Brushing twice a day and flossing once is your best bet to fight off gum disease at home.
Remember that going to see your Woodlands dentist every six months for a cleaning and checkup is more than simply keeping up appearances. You can feel assured that gum disease won’t ruin your smile or cause health issues later in life. No matter what age your stage of life you’re in, we invite you to speak with one of our Woodlands dentists. We believe in providing the highest quality dental care to our Woodlands neighbors and families.
Please contact any of these Woodlands dentists for an appointment where we can answer any questions and help you!
Dr. Robert Dernick (General, Cosmetic, Implant Dentistry, and TMJ)
Dr. Mike Freeman (General, Cosmetic, Implant, Sleep Apnea, and TMJ)
Dr. Alisa Reed (General, Cosmetic, Implant, Laser, Sleep Apnea, and TMJ)
Dr. Wade Williams (Orthodontics)
Dr. Nikita Vakil (General, Cosmetic, Implant Dentistry)
Dr. Leslie Blackburn (Pediatric Dentistry)