Morgantown, WV – Brushing teeth and flossing may not only reduce gum disease and stroke but memory loss, U.S. researchers suggest.
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In an ongoing study, researchers at West Virginia University in Morgantown gave oral exams, memory tests and, if subjects agreed, a blood test to 270 people age 70 or older in more than a dozen West Virginia counties.
The researchers found about 23 percent of the group suffers from mild to moderate memory loss.
“We’re looking for markers in the blood that show inflammation to see if there is a link to memory problems,” one study researcher, Dr. Richard Crout, said in a statement.
It is not yet understood whether mouth microorganisms create health problems or whether the body’s inflammatory response is to blame. Crout said it may be a combination.
However, the connection between severe dementia and gum disease is already well-known, although clinicians often do not realize gum disease affects memory, Crout said.
“Older people might want to know there’s more reason to keep their mouths clean — to brush and floss — than ever,” Crout said in a statement. “You’ll not only be more likely to keep your teeth, but you’ll also reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke and memory loss.”
Morgantown is NOT in VA, it is in another state called WEST VIRGINIA,
West Virginia is NOT a part of Virginia. It is a VERY different state. They were even on different sides during the war.
In fact the residents of West Virginia refer to their state as “West By G-d Virginia”
They fought on the wrong side during the War of Yankee Aggression, taking the Union side, and had to fight against their brothers in the adjoining state, The Commonwealth of Virginia.
I hope it is true with a scientific basis and not an important message from a dentist
I didn’t think you could find people in WV over age 70 with enough teeth to floss
This study seems strange. It is almost like saying that smokers have more cirrhosis of the liver than non smokers, without saying that smokers on average drink much more than non smokers, and the greater incidence of cirrhosis in smokers is due to alcohol consumption.
Those who take good care of their teeth are much more likely to take vitamin supplements and eat a better diet than those who don’t take good care of their teeth.
I think these scientist / researchers got it all wrong, maybe it is just the opposite. For example, people who don’t brush their teeth probably already suffer from memory loss so that’s why they forget to brush their teeth. But, rather than saying people who brush their teeth have better memory, maybe they brush their teeth because they have better memory and remember to brush their teeth.
See just look at it the opposite way.
I just hope you dont forget where you put the toothpaste and floss!!!!!!!!!
I think it is an inflammatory response. I had some dead tooth roots remaining in my gums after a crown broke off. Thanks to no insurance, I couldn’t afford to have it repaired. I was assured there was no problem since the roots were dead.
Here’s the strange part. That was 10 years ago. I also developed MS like symptoms at about the same time. I now live in Israel and have gotten great work done at Hadassah Hosp. Dental School. The roots are gone and so are the symptoms! I know MS can remit but my MRI’s were clear so it was only a probably dx. But I had constant neurological weakness on my right side. That is gone and my balance has returned neither of which occurred during the so-called “remissions.” There was no infection at the root site and the surgery was minor. This was simply an inflammatory incident. Why when the crown borke off? I don’t know. Maybe something to do with my bite and presure on the remaining roots which had had root canal.
Take care of your teeth. Misalignments aren’t just cosmetic issues. They affect our entire body.
Maybe people who have poor memory forget to brush their teeth?
For many years I have researched (and give seminars partially concerning this) the toxic effects of mercury amalgems. One rather common effect is memory loss. The inflamation cited in the above article might also play a role, however the toxicicity of mercury is well known…in fact a few countries actually outlaw the use in “fillings”. Also in large dental clinics in California a patient must sign a consent form. One research institution with an interesting web site is the famous (and known for its cutting edge research) University of Calgary……..My web site is autoimmunesolutions.com
Dr. Lang, do you advise people to use the Cutler protocol for chelation with DMSA plus alpha lipoic acid starting a few months after their amalgams were replaced? Some of us who have had a large number of mercury filings have become very ill from them.
Another question for Dr. Lang. If amalgams are capped or covered with a permanent crown, bridge etc. does it prevent the toxicity? Isn’t the toxicity from an interaction of acidic saliva with the amalgams?
Hadassah insists on using amalgams where aesthetics aren’t a concern for the reasons you cite above. I will be having several restorative processes that will do just that and I’m hoping it will help since I can’t begin to afford to replace the amalgams.
Amalgams will leak mercury even if they are covered with a crown. The rate of leakage is much lower than if they aren’t covered though. Don’t let a dentist put mercury fillings in your mouth.
Hazon Yeshaya has a free dental clinic in Jerusalem. Chabad has dental clinics in Israel. . The Chabad clinics might not be completely free, but will at least be much lower in cost than a private dentist. See if these clinic are mercury free, and if they would remove all the mercury in a tooth before placing a crown.