Written by Mervat Rashad
Sunday, February 05, 2023 11:00 PM
Scientists have confirmed that genetically susceptible people To tooth decay And losing it may be at greater risk of deteriorating brain health than those who do not have oral health problems, and the scientific research that will be discussed at the International Stroke Conference of the American Stroke Association in Dallas this February confirmed that poor oral health may negatively affect the health of the brain. brain, but if tooth decay and gum disease are treated early it may help reduce the risk.healthnews“.
Researchers examined possible links between oral health and brain health using nearly 40,000 adult participants from the UK Biobank. The participants had no history of stroke. The team screened the participants for 105 genetic variants related to poor oral health. They also checked what If they had missing teeth or dentures later in life, to check for associations between oral and brain health, the team examined MRI images of the participant’s brain for white matter and microscopic structural damage..
After pooling the data, the scientists found that participants with genetic variants that make them vulnerable to oral health problems such as tooth decay and tooth loss had a greater burden of silent cerebrovascular disease — a risk factor for future strokes. Among these participants, the research team noted an increase of 24 percent. % in white matter hyperintensity in MRI images.
In addition, adults with poor oral health due to the genetic variant also showed a 43% increase in microstructural damage scores for the brain. .
Poor oral health can deteriorate brain health, so we need to be extra careful with our oral hygiene because it has effects that extend far beyond the mouth,” according to study author Cyprien Rivière, MD, a neuroscientist at Bell University School of Medicine.
What are the links between oral health and health problems?
Poor oral health can lead to increased inflammation and bacteria in the body. This is linked to a myriad of diseases, including diabetes, stroke, heart attack, kidney disease, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Uncontrolled gum disease increases the risk of a heart attack by 200-400%. All the bacteria that flows from your mouth gets deposited in your heart and creates an environment that makes you vulnerable to a heart attack. Symptoms of poor oral health include bleeding while brushing your teeth or a toothache. Bleeding is a sign of a toothache. Bacteria in the gums cause inflammation.
A person can improve oral health by brushing the teeth well, flossing the tongue, and flossing the teeth.