US experts, by reviewing many studies from around the world, found that proper oral hygiene is the prevention of a whole range of diseases. They named 50 of them, including dementia, rheumatoid arthritis and Parkinson’s disease. At the world’s largest general science conference, they presented evidence that the spread of inflammation and infection caused by bacteria in the mouth is related to problems throughout the body.
Alpdogan Kantarci, professor of dentistry at the University of Minnesota, said that advanced gum disease— periodontitis – although it may not directly cause dementia, it can trigger common risk factors and accelerate the course of disease in susceptible individuals.
“Research now shows that in people with mild or moderate disease those who brush, care for, or visit the dentist and undergo thorough cleanings show much better cognitive responses. We now think that maintaining healthy teeth may be associated with a reduced risk of more than fifty systemic diseases,” Professor Kantarci said at the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference in Phoenix.
According to him, research on mice showed that periodontitis can increase brain inflammation and that pathogenic oral bacteria can cross the blood-brain barrier, especially in older individuals. Felipe Andrade from Johns Hopkins University presented evidence for the role of bacteria responsible for gum disease in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. Nobuhiko Kamada of the University of Michigan described the impact of oral bacteria on the gut microbiome and the possible increase in the risk of idiopathic intestinal inflammation and colorectal cancer.
Professor Kantarci recommends brush your teeth two to three times a day, especially after eating sticky or sugary foods. If it is possible only once a day, then before going to bed. He advises elderly people with limited dexterity to use electric brushes, which can also be used to clean the tongue.
