The Connection Between Oral Health and Alzheimer’s

The following is an excerpt from our Brain Longevity® Therapy Training which can be accessed at arpf.com. 

Like Alzheimer’s disease (AD) itself, gum damage, tooth loss, and other dental problems are often labeled as “normal” aspects of aging. But also like AD, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Recent research is telling us that poor oral health can be prevented, and prevention should absolutely be an important focus for every aging person on this planet. Not only do good dental habits help preserve oral function as well as image—in other words, quality of life—they also help maintain cognitive function.

It makes sense that oral health plays such an important role in our overall wellbeing. Think about it: The mouth, throat, and tongue are absolutely vital for speech, as well as chewing, swallowing, and digesting the foods that give us the critical nutrients to sustain life. Also, they are in near-constant contact with the external environment, and their job descriptions include filtering and processing disease-causing microbes and antigens. If they can’t perform all of their job duties correctly, we can’t eat and we’re more susceptible to harmful pathogens. Beyond that, our self-image is affected when we lose our smile, which can lead to social isolation and even contribute to depression—two major risk factors for AD.

If you would like more information on oral health and other AD risk factors, on top of living a lifestyle that is highly successful in preventing Alzheimer’s, please join our BLTT program at arpf.com. It is offered to professionals to enhance their career– but ANYONE can become a Brain Longevity Specialist. Anyone and everyone can use this information for their own good and for the sake of their loved ones. Please join us in the fight against AD.