Link between gum disease/alzheimer's

[packman]

"..The presence of gum disease at baseline was associated with a six-fold increase in the rate of cognitive decline in participants over the six-month follow-up period of the study. Periodontitis at baseline was also associated with a relative increase in the pro-inflammatory state over the six-month follow-up period. The authors conclude that gum disease is associated with an increase in cognitive decline in Alzheimer's Disease, possibly via mechanisms linked to the body's inflammatory response"

Another study that seems to confirm the relationship between inflammatory attacks - be it joint, skin, whatever - and the onset of Alzheimer's. The older you get, the more you ache , the more chance of Alzheimer's.



http://www.science20.com/news_articles/link_between_gum_disease_and_cognitive_decline_in_alzheimers-167811

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. Ok, ok, going to brush again right now. nt

[IDemo]

2. Not to mention the link between gum disease and heart disease

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/healthy-teeth-healthy-heart

[Wilms]

4. This fascinates me.

Chinese Medicine associates gum disease and the heart since...who knows when.

[jberryhill]

7. It also associates using rhino horn with curing disease

Along with tiger bone.

[Wilms]

8. Which "logically" means they are wrong about the link.

Well, at least Western Medicine is right about it.

[jberryhill]

9. No, that does not follow "logically"

But random guessing is sometimes right.

[Wilms]

12. THAT'S how they did it!

Leave it to modern science to figure everything out.

[randome]

3. I'm a firm believer in the overall health benefits of keeping one's mouth clean.

That means brushing your gums as well as your teeth, tongue and cheeks. It's all part of the same system.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]"Everybody is just on their feet screaming 'Kill Kill Kill'! This is -hockey- Conservative values!"[/center][/font][hr]

[DawgHouse]

5. I think probiotics can also prevent gum disease and thereby periodontal disease.

[LannyDeVaney]

6. That's really depressing for me ...

I struggle with my gum health. I go to the hygienist every 4 months, floss every day, water pik every day. Re-brush with straight peroxide.

Odd thing - I have never had a cavity. But my gums are a disaster. I get my separation measured every visit and they are usually around a 5.

So now I not only have that to deal with that but I'll have Alzheimer's and probably die of heart disease.

I guess I need to continue to run a 5K, while brushing and repeating my address and phone number in my head.

[Wilms]

10. This happened to an old friend of mine.

So I'm

Do all those good things. USE a hearing aid if you have too! Big link between untreated hearing loss and dementia.

Stay engaged with people. No isolating. K?

[flamingdem]

16. Don't put too much stock in this article

My dentist told me that this link as well as the link to heart disease have been shown to not be true.

[librechik]

11. I had my gums lasered a couple of years ago.

no more gum disease. My health insurance started covering it--after I had paid cash. When the whole mouth is finished, if you get a pocket they just laser that tooth. No more gum disease.

[Sweet Freedom]

13. Ohmigosh, I never heard of this.

I'd like to know more about it. What is the procedure called? How much did it cost? thanks!

[librechik]

15. it is called laser assisted periodontal therapy

http://www.gumsurgery.com/laser-gum-treatment-new-york-new-jersey.php

they did it in 2 sessions (with local anesthesia, of course) plus a year of followup treatment

it cost 4000.00 but as i said, Delta now covers most of the cost in our state.

After years of repetitive surgery (I balked at the second surgery on the same area) it was all over in a few hours and now my gums are like new.

There are video info things on youtube. The procedure has been around for at least 10 years now,so you might be able to find a dentist who is trained in it and has the equipment near where
you live. Good luck!

[Sweet Freedom]

18. Thank you!

I've been looking for a noninvasive option. I appreciate it!

[AwakeAtLast]

14. Mine was taken care of by high pressure water

Can't remember what it's called.

It hasn't returned either!

[flamingdem]

17. Do NOT let this study worry you, only 59 people in the study

A smart doctor told me - don't pay much attention to studies under 1,000

---
In the observational study, 59 participants with mild to moderate Alzheimer's Disease were cognitively assessed and a blood sample was taken to measure inflammatory markers in their blood. Participants' dental health was assessed by a dental hygienist who was blind to cognitive outcomes. The majority of participants (52) were followed-up at six months when all assessments were repeated.