{"id":141,"date":"2019-02-08T13:48:17","date_gmt":"2019-02-08T13:48:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.danajonesdds.com\/blog\/?p=141"},"modified":"2022-09-07T19:53:26","modified_gmt":"2022-09-07T19:53:26","slug":"dentist-in-ridgefield-explains-why-healthy-gums-healthy-brain-function","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.danajonesdds.com\/blog\/dentist-in-ridgefield-explains-why-healthy-gums-healthy-brain-function\/","title":{"rendered":"Dentist In Ridgefield Explains Why Healthy Gums = Healthy Brain Function"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Did you know that dementia is now the 5<sup>th<\/sup> leading\ncause of death worldwide? The lack of understanding and effective treatment for\nthis disease has been incredibly frustrating for both doctors and patients. But\nnew evidence has been found that could shed some light on things. It may\nsurprise you, but studies have shown that gum disease may play a big role in\nthe development of brain-related conditions like dementia and Alzheimer\u2019s\ndisease. Keep reading to learn more about this important topic and find out how\na dentist in Ridgefield can help lower your risk!&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Are Gums Linked To the Brain?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/article\/2191814-we-may-finally-know-what-causes-alzheimers-and-how-to-stop-it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Recent research<\/a> has found evidence that dementia and Alzheimer\u2019s disease are caused by an infection of the brain. They think this infection is caused by the same type of bacteria (Porphyromonas gingivalis or P. gingivalis) that causes infections of the gums \u2013 also called gum disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While researchers aren\u2019t entirely sure yet of how this\nbacteria enters the brain, they do know that plaque and tartar contain large\nnumbers of P. gingivalis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s possible that, as plaque and tartar accumulate under\nthe gumline, P. gingivalis gets into the bloodstream and travels throughout the\nentire body, including the brain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Doctors are encouraged by this new information, and more studies\nare being done in the hopes that it leads to better prevention and treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Are the Signs of Gum Disease? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>An estimated 65 million Americans have some form of gum\ndisease. Here are some of the most common signs and symptoms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Bleeding gums (such as after brushing or\nflossing)<\/li><li>Tender or swollen gums<\/li><li>Chronic bad breath<\/li><li>Receding gums<\/li><li>Loose teeth<\/li><li>Pain when chewing<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to being a risk factor for dementia, gum disease\nis also the leading cause of tooth loss. Not to mention that it increases the\nrisk for heart disease, stroke, pregnancy complications, and even some cancers.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In light of this information, gum health may be just as\nimportant for your well-being as a good diet, adequate sleep, and exercise. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Can You Improve Your Gum Health? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Thankfully, there are some easy ways to prevent or manage\ngum disease:&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Get\nregular dental care<\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.danajonesdds.com\/request-an-appointment.html\">6-month\ncheckups<\/a> include an annual gum exam so that gum problems can be found and\ntreated early on, as well as a professional cleaning to remove tartar buildup\nthat you can\u2019t remove at home. <\/li><li><strong>Get gum\ntherapy as needed<\/strong> \u2013 Oftentimes, the first recommendation is a special type\nof cleaning called scaling and root planing. This thoroughly removes plaque and\ntartar under the gumline and smooths the roots to prevent P. gingivalis\nbacteria from re-accumulating. <\/li><li><strong>Practice\ngood oral hygiene habits <\/strong>\u2013 The cleaner you keep your teeth and gums, the\nhealthier they\u2019ll be. Brush at least twice each day and floss once. There are\nalso many effective aids such as an electric toothbrush or oral irrigator to\nhelp you be more effective.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Gum disease and its link to brain health should be taken\nseriously. But, with professional care and good practices at home, you can keep\nyour gums <em>and<\/em> brain healthy at the\nsame time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.danajonesdds.com\/meet-the-doctors.html\">Dr.\nDana C. Jones<\/a> is a dentist in Ridgefield with nearly 30 years of\nexperience. He\u2019s a firm believer in the power of good oral health to help his\npatients lead long, healthy lives. That\u2019s why he focuses on prevention and\nearly treatment to maintain healthy gums and reduce the risk of disease. If you\nhave any other questions about your gums, he can be contacted through his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.danajonesdds.com\/contact-us.html\">website.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Did you know that dementia is now the 5th leading cause of death worldwide? The lack of understanding and effective treatment for this disease has been incredibly frustrating for both doctors and patients. But new evidence has been found that could shed some light on things. It may surprise you, but studies have shown that [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-141","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Dentist In Ridgefield Explains Why Healthy Gums = Healthy Brain Function<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Your gums affect more than just your smile \u2013 a dentist in Ridgefield explains how healthy gums lower the risk for brain-related diseases like Alzheimer\u2019s.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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