According to the CDC, about 48% of adults aged 20-64 have all of their permanent teeth. That is to say, 52% of adults are missing at least one tooth. At ages 20-39, 66.7 % of adults still have all of their teeth. At age 40-64, only 33.6% of adults still have all permanent teeth. In the age ranges of 65 to 74, 13% of the total population has no remaining natural teeth. By age ranges 75 and up, 25% of Americans are edentulous, or lacking any teeth. Needless to say, our nation has a problem with retaining its oral health. Read more about it on the CDC web page.
We already know that periodontitis (gum disease) can be a factor in heart disease. People with poor oral health also have other problems, including:
- Increased risk of diabetes.
- Lower confidence levels (if bad oral health is plainly visible).
- Increased risk of infection in the mouth and elsewhere from fungus, viruses, and bacteria.
- Higher risk of tooth loss.
Having good oral health is obviously important. However, a new analysis from the NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing indicates that oral health is also a factor in cognitive decline. Other studies have shown this as well, but the new study from NYU researches tells us what we can do about it. Previous studies have shown that tooth loss and gum disease may be a factor in mental decline among older adults. New information has shown us that the presence of teeth may be an important factor in the cognitive abilities of the elderly.
Why is tooth loss associated with diminished cognitive ability?
There isn’t clear data on the causal effect, but researches speculate the following:
- The inability to chew due to lack of teeth results in eating different foods. This may lead to people with missing teeth not getting healthy diets and thus have nutritional deficiencies. Additionally, nutritional changes can alter the gut biome, which will have reverberations throughout the body. Nutritional changes may also lead to brain changes as well.
- Tooth loss may also reflect socioeconomic indicators. These often involve poverty and extreme bad health, both of which are associated with disadvantageous to health in old age. Socioeconomic disadvantages also factor into mental decline risk.
How was this analysis completed?
Bei Wu, a PhD, and Dean’s Professor in Global Health at NYU, conducted a meta-analysis of studies on tooth loss and cognitive impairment. These 14 studies involved over 34,000 adults over 4,000 cases of people with decreased cognitive capability. The studies were also longitudinal, meaning they repeatedly examined the same individuals over a period of time. This is done to detect any changes that might occur over that time period.
What they discovered was participants in the study who had more tooth loss were at 1.48 times higher risk of developing mental impairment. Additionally, those same study participants had a 1.28 times higher risk of a dementia diagnosis. Each additional tooth lost increased the risk of cognitive impairment by 0.014, and raised the risk of dementia by 0.011. These numbers were derived when controlling for other factors. Other factors included general health, socioeconomic status, nutrition, and diet. Finally, the risk was even higher for the edentulous (those with no teeth remaining). They had a 1.54 times higher risk of cognitive impairment and a 1.40 times higher risk of being diagnosed with dementia.
However, the association of dementia and cognitive impairment with tooth loss was not significant for those who used dentures.
The study’s conclusion was relatively straightforward:
- Tooth loss is associated with cognitive decline/impairment and dementia.
- Risk of cognitive decline/dementia increased as the number of missing teeth in a study participant increased.
- Timely treatment of lost teeth with prosthodontic (prosthetic teeth) may reduce the advance of tooth-loss related cognitive decline.
Source: Sciencedirect.com.
What does it mean for you?
Regardless of your age, this study should highlight the importance of taking care of your teeth. Maintaining good oral health helps with maintaining good mental health for a few different reasons. What the aforementioned study has shown is that you want to keep your teeth healthy to avoid mental decline. Additionally, maintaining good oral health helps keep you in a routine: brushing once in the morning and once at night before bed, and flossing once a day. Routines help maintain mental health and cognizance.
Make sure your oral health is the best it can be with Josey Lane
Josey Lane Dentistry has been helping the Carrollton Texas area keep its smiles bright for nearly two decades. We are specialists in oral surgery, preventative, cosmetic, and restorative dental care. Whether your need a check up or specific treatment, Josey Lane can help. Contact us today to find out what we can do for you.
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