Diligently Brush Your Teeth Can Prevent Dementia? Here's The Explanation
JAKARTA - Brain health must be maintained properly in order to avoid various cognitive disorders such as dementia, which can lead to Alzheimer's disease. In maintaining brain health, there are many things that can be done, such as applying a healthy diet to a healthy daily lifestyle.
Reporting from the Times of India, daily activities that are usually carried out can also help maintain brain health, namely brushing teeth. Brushing teeth for 2 minutes every morning and night can prevent dementia and keep the brain healthy in the long term.
"If you ignore oral health, you increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and other body parts," said mouth health and dementia expert Dr. Alp Kantarec, quoted on Thursday, February 27, 2025.
Several studies have also proven that oral health is directly related to brain health. One of them is a study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.
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The study analyzed 468 participants with clinical periodontal data, oral microbial plaque, serum samples, and brain MRI. Through a study once adjusted to several risk factors, it shows that some of the periodontitis or gum disease can affect Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
In another study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease analyzed antibodies to 19 oral bacteria, to find out their relationship with Alzheimer's and dementia diagnosis. As a result, adults with signs of gum disease and oral infection are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease.
Therefore, it is very important to maintain oral hygiene to maintain brain health. One way is to brush your teeth regularly every morning and night for two minutes.
It's very complicated, and this is why we can't say if you suffer from periodontitis, you'll be exposed to Alzheimer's disease. However, what we know is that if you suffer from severe periodontitis, the chances of getting Alzheimer's disease are greater," concluded geriatric dentistry professor at the Netherlands's Groningen University, Anita Visser.