Bleeding gums are a sign of gum disease.
Gingivitis, and the more severe periodontal disease should be taken care of
immediately, otherwise you may eventually lose your teeth. However, what is
even more shocking is that gum disease and tooth loss could also cause a
decline in thinking skills, especially among people over the age of 50.
Researchers are investigating whether people
who have poor dental health also suffer from poor cognitive functions, which
technically mean people who have gum disease also have problems with managing
numbers, words, and memory.
Recent research indicates that that every
person, whether male or female, who had a tooth removed or had lost a tooth,
saw a loss in cognitive function. In fact, people who had lost all of their
teeth had quite poor cognition compared with those who had more. The study also
found poor cognitive behaviors in people who suffered from severe gum disease,
or periodontitis.
Conducted in 1996 and lasting until 1998, the
study consisted of data that was gathered from people who took part in memory
and thinking skills tests. The 6,000 participants were both men and women
between the ages of 45 and 64. Thirteen percent of those who took part in the
study had lost their natural teeth with about a fifth of the participants having
less than 20 teeth remaining. About 12 percent of the participants had deep gum
pockets and serious bleeding gum issues.
What the researchers discovered was that the
scores on thinking and memory tests, including number skills, word fluency and
word recall, was lower in people who didn’t have teeth. People who had better
oral health and more teeth had better test scores than those with severe gum
disease as well.
Some researchers believe that poor dental
health may reflect poor eating habits. People with tooth and gum problems may
not be able to eat certain, “Brain foods,” which could contribute to poor
cognitive functions. Researchers agree that it could be a contributing factor,
but so could inflammation from gum disease. Inflammation, regardless of where
it is located in the system can affect cognition.
So what’s the bottom line? Good oral health
habits just may help you think better and remember where you put your keys.
If you would like more information regarding
oral hygiene, schedule an appointment with your dentist today.
