Dental Health And Alzheimer’s Disease-Things One Needs To Know

February 6, 2022

An Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis can come as a huge shock and can be a tricky thing for family and friends to come to terms with. Alzheimer’s disease definition is a brain disorder that destroys thinking skills and memory, this typically progresses slowly and usually begins to present in someone’s mid -60s. Alzheimer’s disease risk factors may include: gender (women tend to suffer from Alzheimer’s more), genetics, head injuries, age, high cholesterol and high blood pressure are also thought to increase someone’s risk.

Although dental health is not instantly connected with Alzheimer’s there are some things to consider. As dentists we are sometimes asked ‘can bad oral hygiene cause Alzheimer’s?’ The link between Alzheimer’s and gum disease is still very much something that is being explored. But recent research has pushed us towards thinking there may be a causational relationship. In mice studies conducted, bacteria found present in gingivitis were also found present in the brain, suggesting these bacteria may be able to migrate and cause functionality issues in the brain.  In addition to this, a study from the University of Central Lancashire School of Medicine and Dentistry saw that 4 out of 10 donated brain samples of dementia patients contained the bacteria found in gingivitis. For those of you who are not familiar with gingivitis, it is caused by poor dental hygiene and if left causes gum disease. Before you worry and run to your toothbrush we want to take this time to reassure you and say that bad hygiene alone is not guaranteed to cause Alzheimer’s disease.

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s can be difficult, and this is not different when looking after their oral hygiene. Regardless of your health status, maintaining good dental hygiene is always important. Some people with Alzheimer’s may forget how to effectively brush their and may even struggle with the actual brushing. This is a common problem as we get asked ‘how to brush the teeth of Alzheimer’s patients?’

Here are some tips to help when looking after someone with Alzheimer’s oral health.

1. Use short instructions when showing them how to brush their teeth. Instead of giving the process in full try saying ‘now put the toothpaste on the brush and take it slowly’. This will help to reduce confusion.
2. Use the ‘copy me’ technique, it may be helpful to show them how to brush by doing it with them. It’s also still recommended to give these instructions as you go whilst showing them.
3. Try changing the toothbrush, you may find that they find it easier to brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush, and a child’s one may be a safe bet. Alternatively, you can source longer-handled toothbrushes. If they require more assistance in brushing and maintaining oral hygiene, we recommend you speak to their dentist to help you create a positive routine.

Now that we’ve discussed how Alzheimer’s disease is linked to poor dental health, and how to care for someone with Alzheimer’s, let’s discuss how we can prevent gum disease.

1. Visit your dentist for regular hygiene and check-up appointments. Poor dental hygiene is the leading cause of gum disease, support and treatment from your dentist will help to protect you from gum disease. If you suspect you already have gum disease your dentist will be able to help you with a bespoke treatment depending on the severity of gum disease.

2. Brush and floss your teeth daily. It is essential that you keep your teeth and gums healthy. When plaque builds around the gum line, the pockets within the gum can become infected.

We’ve covered Alzheimer’s disease definition, Alzheimer’s disease risk factors and can bad oral hygiene cause Alzheimer’s. To summarise your oral health is incredibly important, and while the link between Alzheimer’s and gum disease is fairly infant the science only seems to strengthen the link as we study this more.