How brushing your teeth can help prevent Alzheimer’s

 by Ashnah Elanchcheliyan

Many people associate brushing your teeth to something that is done completely habitually. In general, most of the population brush their teeth twice daily. But what if the way you clean your teeth today might affect your chances of getting Alzheimer’s disease in years to come?

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, involving parts of the brain that control thought, memory and language. It is thought to be caused by the abnormal build-up of proteins in and around brain cells. There is increasing evidence that gum disease could be a probable risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease; some researchers even suggest that risk doubles when gum disease persists for 10 or more years. A recent study also develops on how a type of bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis (or P. gingivalis) – associated with gum disease, has been found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, another piece of evidence that supports this statement is that tests on mice were also conducted which showed how the bug (disease) spread from their mouth to the brain where it destroyed the nerve cells.

Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease. This happens when the gums swell up in reaction to the buildup of bacterial plaque on the tooth's surface. If gingivitis remains untreated, bacteria-filled “subgingival pockets” between the tooth and gum develop. These pockets illustrate how gingivitis has developed into periodontitis. Although dental care can help restrict the bacteria's development at this point, it is very difficult to completely eliminate the bacteria. People with poor oral hygiene have a much higher chance of developing gum disease. Factors like genetics, medication, diet, puberty, and pregnancy are a few of the elements that can play a role in the progression of the condition. 

Other types of bacteria including the herpes type 1 virus have been detected in Alzheimer's disease brains, according to previous study. In addition, both those who have experienced a major head injury and those who have Down's syndrome have an increased chance of acquiring Alzheimer's disease. A number of disorders linked to cardiovascular illness, according to research, can increase the risk of Alzheimer's. This implies that there are several factors with one single endpoint, and scientists are still striving to understand the connection. This endpoint causes the same symptoms as Alzheimer's disease: forgetfulness and behavioural abnormalities. Moreover, “neurofibrillary tangles” and plaque accumulation in the brain's grey matter also co-exist here. These are the debris from the collapse of the internal skeleton of a neuron. This occurs when a protein can no longer carry out its function of stabilising the cell structure.

The most recent research provides further evidence to the theory that gum disease is one of the factors that can lead to Alzheimer's disease. However, it is crucial to remember that not everyone with gum disease goes on to develop Alzheimer's disease, and not everyone with Alzheimer's disease has gum disease. Scientists now need to create tests that can tell dentists which patients to focus on in order to determine who is ‘at risk’. Then, dental clinicians can offer such individuals advice on how to better maintain their oral health in order to lower their chance of developing Alzheimer's disease. But until then, frequent brushing of your teeth and maintaining good oral hygiene is strongly advised.