Brush teeth properly to prevent dementia and cancer, expert says

"'Research is now showing that in people with mild or moderate diseases, those who are brushing and taking care of their teeth or seeing a dentist and having advanced cleanings, are showing much better cognitive responses,' he told the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) conference in Phoenix, Arizona. 'We now think that maintaining your teeth in health may be associated with a reduced risk of more than 50 systemic conditions.'"

"Meanwhile, Dr Felipe Andrade, an associate professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins, presented evidence that pathogens responsible for gum disease also play a role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. And Dr Nobuhiko Kamada, from the University of Michigan's department of internal medicine, described how oral bacteria can influence the gut microbiome, potentially increasing the risk of inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer."

Proper tooth brushing and oral hygiene can lower the risk or slow progression of more than 50 systemic conditions, including dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson's, heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and colorectal cancer. Oral bacteria can spread inflammation and infection beyond the mouth and influence distant organs and tissues such as the brain, joints, and gut. Periodontitis may not directly cause these diseases but can trigger shared risk factors and accelerate disease in susceptible individuals. Dental care and advanced cleanings correlate with improved cognitive responses in people with mild to moderate disease. Laboratory and clinical findings show pathogenic oral microbes can increase brain inflammation, cross the blood–brain barrier, and alter the gut microbiome.

Read at Mail Online