The cause of dementia is hidden in the mouth?

The cause of dementia is hidden in the mouth?  The latest data show that there are about 222 million elderly people aged 60 and above, accounting for 15% of the total population, and they have entered the aging population. Cognitive dysfunction is one of the most common diseases in the elderly. The incidence of cognitive dysfunction in the elderly over 60 years old at home and abroad is as high as 10%-15%.

The latest data show that there are about 222 million elderly people aged 60 and above, accounting for 15% of the total population, and they have entered the aging population. Cognitive dysfunction is one of the most common diseases in the elderly. The incidence of cognitive dysfunction in the elderly over 60 years old is as high as 10%-15%. Chronic diseases such as blood pressure, diabetes, lack of physical exercise, smoking, drinking, low education level, depression, and history of brain injury, etc.

In recent years, studies have found that edentia is also related to the occurrence of dementia, and premature tooth loss in the elderly, especially full-mouth tooth loss, will lead to the loss of occlusal support, resulting in the gradual degradation or even loss of chewing function. Is this decline or lack of chewing function also one of the causes of dementia in the elderly?

An oral epidemiological survey showed:

Nearly half of the elderly have varying degrees of tooth defect or even missing. Premature tooth defect, especially missing, will lead to weakening or even disappearance of chewing function. The weakened or disappeared chewing stimulation will affect the hippocampus of the brain.

On the one hand, chewing can increase cerebral cortex blood flow and hippocampal blood oxygen level, and has an important effect on cerebral cortex function, information transmission and maintenance of hippocampal learning and memory;

On the other hand, good chewing function ensures the nutritional intake of the tested elderly, and balanced and rich nutrition is the basis and guarantee of the patient’s physical and mental health. Timely restoration of missing teeth is the key to blocking this incentive. It is very important to strengthen oral health care and prevention of oral diseases before missing teeth occur.

Therefore, the following three points must be taken to protect teeth:

1. Regular oral examinations

Early detection of oral diseases and timely treatment. After people reach old age, due to the atrophy of the oral mucosa and the decrease of saliva secretion, the self-purification effect in the oral cavity of the elderly is reduced, and the chance of periodontitis and dental caries in the elderly is increased.

2. Oral cleaning for the elderly

• There are many ways to clean the mouth. Brushing is the most basic way to clean the mouth. But for the elderly, brushing their teeth once in the morning and evening is not enough. Because of periodontal atrophy and large interdental space, the elderly also need to use toothpicks, dental floss, and interdental brushes to help clean teeth.
• Rinse your mouth after eating. It is also a good way to clean your mouth. Rinse your mouth with warm water after each meal, especially after eating sweet and sticky foods, gargle to remove food residues and bacteria left in the mouth and reduce the negative impact of food residues on teeth.
• Elderly people who clean dentures and wear movable dentures should take out and clean the dentures at least twice a day, and take out the dentures before going to bed at night, put them in a cup and soak them in a cleaning solution to remove stains to prevent denture stomatitis.

3. Life lies in exercise, and teeth also need exercise

Three meals a day, although the teeth are also in motion, but just as the limbs are active every day but can not completely replace the health exercise, the chewing action of the three meals is not enough, and the teeth need their own exercise. Such as tapping teeth, turning tongue massage, drum rinsing, clenching the teeth during defecation, etc., you can perform dental exercises.

Therefore, paying attention to oral hygiene and reducing tooth loss may help prevent cognitive decline in the elderly.

(sourcechinanet, reference only)

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