I just read this on the home page. They are referring to infections of the gums. I am wondering if it applies to teeth being pulled because of an infection!
The loss of these brain connections can cause more teeth to fall out, further contributing to cognitive decline.
Who knows what someone will come up with next that causes dementia. I think it is a load of rubbish.
For years, "they", meaning scientists, I guess, have been correlating all kinds of diseases to gum disease. They say that the constant infections and toxins that are released into the body from gum disease can cause heart disease, brain diseases, and any number of other diseases. I absolutely believe it, because I am the WORST dental phobic in the entire world, and as much as I hate to admit it, my mouth used to be a mess from fear of going to the dentist. All those years, I also suffered from throat infections. Finally, I found a dentist who was also a medical doctor. He put me out, and did hours of work cleaning up my gums. Then the regular dentist loaded me up with valium for each visit, and fixed the teeth. Since then, I am a fanatic flosser and electric tooth brush brusher, and have not had a throat infection.
Sure hope none of it went to my brain.
The article to which we are referring is under the Breaking News section on the home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com
Have scheduled an appt. for my dh next week. Hope they will be able to check his teeth and gums while in the wheelchair as I can't get him onto their chair anymore but he needs the teeth looked at. Am I being unduly concerned? I clean his teeth daily and floss but some are loose and even might be ready to fall out. When do you stop worrying about such things? Most of my trouble I think is due to clinching. I find myself doing this a lot and then I have problems so am also going to the dentist to make sure that is all it is or did I crack some teeth with my clenching?
I had to take my husband to have a tooth extracted and had noted a few weeks later that a tooth fragment remained. I then took him to an oral surgeon and they did laser tx to remove. For the next few days he had no recall and this was when his AD was in early stages. So proceed with caution.