Losing Teeth Takes a Toll on Your Health
In this blog, we’ll talk about how tooth loss is connected with dementia. Our last blog discussed the link between gum disease and dementia (link). It’s a fact that gum disease can lead to tooth loss. However, it wasn’t the main factor in the study we’ll address here.
Science Daily reported that researchers discovered important facts about tooth loss.
Using CDC data, their study indicated that one in six elderly adults have lost all their teeth. This applies to adults who are 65 or older.
Several reasons were possible explanations for the dementia associated with tooth loss:
- Difficulty chewing which led to nutritional deficiencies
- Resulting socio-economic disadvantages that risked cognitive decline
Details of the Study on Tooth Loss Connected with Dementia
Researchers analyzed 14 studies. These studies involved 34,074 adults and 4,689 cases of diminished cognitive function. They found that adults with greater tooth loss had a 1.48 higher risk of developing dementia.
In fact, individuals with tooth loss and no dentures were at greater risk for dementia. The following were the statistics for dementia risk:
- Those with dentures had a risk of 16.9 percent
- Those without dentures had a risk of 23.8 percent
Furthermore, with each additional missing tooth, the patient carried a 1.4 percent increased risk of dementia. This factor provided evidence that the greater the tooth loss, the greater the risk for dementia.
Good oral health is linked to cognitive function. For some time health practitioners have known about the connection between oral health and overall health. This is further evidence of how vitally important it is to take good care of your teeth.
Do you have questions about dental care?
Call (512) 806-7740 and make an appointment today to discuss your questions and concerns. At Hutto Hippo Family Dental we don’t believe in making patients wait. We know your time is valuable and our office policy is to get you in as soon as possible.
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