Lose your teeth, lose your mind

http://www.physorg.com/news191861416.html

by mikecane • 16 years ago

23 23 16 years ago

physorg.com

Vivtek• 16 years ago

Excuse me, I have to go brush my teeth.

snth• 16 years ago

I wonder if high sugar intake could be the common cause for both problems.

sdrinf• 16 years ago

Or smoking cough.

muddylemon• 16 years ago

Or class - which strongly correlates with diet and smoking along with education, mental stimulation through your occupation, medical care, etc.

jrockway2• 16 years ago

The brain is fueled by glucose, so probably not.

abstractbill2• 16 years ago

Most of the sugar we ingest is not glucose. The sugars we eat get converted into glucose plus some nasty crap depending on what sugar is being converted, according to a video that was posted here a while back, but which I can't find right now...

mikecane• 16 years ago

Dr. Weston A. Price was a big advocate of teeth leading to other health problems long ago.

His book at PG-Australia is worth a look: http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks02/0200251h.html

ams6110• 16 years ago

Best thing I've found for oral hygiene is a Water Pik. It will really flush out your gums. Use lukewarm water, tap cold is painful at least for me. You can put some mouthwash it it too if you like.

Since I've been using one my dentist has remarked on the noticeable improvement in my gum health.

EDIT: This is in addition to regular brushing of course.

slug• 16 years ago

I second this. I floss, but sometimes laziness wins and water pik works remarkably well, followed by brushing.

kowen• 16 years ago

I second (third?) this. You can also use a ViaJet (some people prefer it).

You can use salt and/or baking soda as antibacterials in the water you use for irrigation.

If you add irrigation to your routine, you may want to switch out dental floss with dental tape and "buff" your teeth (floss:tape as thread:ribbon - buffing with a thread doesn't work too well). Makes a huge difference in the buildup of plaque.

Lastly, disclosing tablets or solution (picking one at random from amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000W6LW6I) is not just for kids. Using it for a few weeks or months could help you see where your tooth brushing technique is a bit weak.

DrSprout• 16 years ago

Seems to me they likely have the causality reversed. As your mental acuity decreases, your ability to properly care for your teeth decreases. You forget to brush as often as you should, and so you lose more teeth. Also your brushing effectiveness could be reduced, as evaluating whether further brushing is necessary is not an entirely trivial task.

Detrus• 16 years ago

Probably not. I had gum disease and cavities when I was 20 after brushing everyday and using Listerine. Maybe I sucked at brushing and didn't know it, either way my brain got screwed.

ahoyhere2• 16 years ago

Some people just have weak teeth.

You might also have a dietary problem -- or calcium deficiency.

There were no women in the study, which is interesting, because women often have huge teeth problems during and after pregnancy. (And breaking small bones!) This happens if their calcium is not managed effectively.

defen• 16 years ago

Well is your brain fixed now? That's terrifying.

rsheridan6• 16 years ago

It could have something to do with bacteria. If you have poor dental hygiene or bleeding gums, you get bacteria in your blood. This is most known for causing endocarditis (infection of the heart), but who knows what else the bacteria, or the body's reaction to them, could cause?

adrianwaj• 16 years ago

Other things I've heard that can cause serious problems are root canals. Once done, they can be a breeding ground for bacteria. I think it depends a lot on how it's done.

Also, mercury-amalgam fillings might problematic if somehow they seep into the body. Or, when a tooth is lost, what gets put in its place?

jrockway2• 16 years ago

when a tooth is lost, what gets put in its place

Gold or ceramic:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_bridge

JohnnyBrown• 16 years ago

How is this anything more than a correlation? I saw nothing at all in support of a causal link.

Lose your teeth, lose your mind

Related Stories