Yet Another Reason to Floss: Surprising Studies Show Link Between Gum Disease and Alzheimer's
If we’re honest with ourselves, we all neglect certain elements of our health. We don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables or we fail to get enough exercise.
Such disregarded areas doubtlessly vary from person to person, but I’d bet there’s one area that a large number of us avoid like a red-hot iron: flossing.
However, recent research has shown that we may want to pick up a packet of floss, particularly if we want to avoid dementia. It turns out that regular flossing may forestall Alzheimer’s.
According to the American Academy of Periodontology, the evidence supporting that claim is pretty strong. An article titled “Porphyromonas gingivalis in Alzheimer’s disease brains: Evidence for disease causation and treatment with small-molecule inhibitors” was published in the scholarly journal Science Advances.
The study centered around the titular bacteria. It’s commonly known as the main culprit in gum disease.
However, scientists made a shocking discovery as they studied the spinal fluid, saliva, and brain tissue from living and dead Alzheimer’s patients: Almost all of them showed evidence of the bacteria. Out of all the brain tissue samples, 96 percent contained enzymes secreted by Porphyromonas gingivalis.
Dr. Richard Kao, president of the American Academy of Periodontology, said, “Periodontists have long known that a healthy mouth contributes to a healthy body, and research has suggested an association between periodontal disease and dementia conditions, such as Alzheimer’s. These recent findings present strong evidence on how periodontal disease can impact the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease.”
However, The Conversation pointed out that factors other than flossing and brushing impact the most common form of dementia. Indeed, this isn’t the first study to draw a link between seemingly unconnected illnesses and Alzheimer’s.
Article author Sim K. Singhrao wrote, “Existing research shows that other types of bacteria and the Herpes type I virus can also be found in Alzheimer’s disease brains. People with Down’s syndrome are also at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, as are people who have had a severe head injury.”
She pointed out that heart disease also played a role in the illness.
“This suggests there are many causes with one endpoint — and scientists are still trying to figure out the connection,” Singhrao concluded.
That doesn’t mean one should ignore oral health. In fact, it’s connected to all sorts of health benefits.
For one thing, it freshens your breath and prevents tooth loss. But a Washington Post article from 2016 pointed out that we’ve known about other advantages for years.
Gum disease has been linked to heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Some studies have even drawn a connection to at-risk pregnancies.
“Treating periodontitis in such patients resulted in fewer hospitalizations and lower medical costs than those who did not receive follow-up periodontal care,” The Washington Post reported.
It was also careful to state that scientists can’t say that gum disease and bacteria cause those conditions.
Still, physicians all over the world want people to realize that brushing and flossing matter.
The New York Post quoted Dr. Davide Pietropaoli of the University of L’Aquila in Italy as saying, “Dental health professionals should be aware that oral health is indispensable to overall physiological health.”
It certainly makes sense to pamper your mouth for a few moments every day. For myself, I think I’m going to go out and buy some floss!
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