The Dursley dentists at Castle Gate Dental Practice in Gloucestershire would like to highlight a new study that has found people with long term gum disease are 70% more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
The research, published in Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy, looked at more than 25,000 people to examine whether patients aged 50 or older with severe gum disease – also called ‘chronic periodontitis’ – had an increased risk of developing the disease.
Although they did not determine any direct causal link between the two diseases they did discover that people who suffered from long standing gum disease, of ten years of more, were up to 70 per cent more likely to then develop Alzheimer’s disease.
Dentists, hygienists and leading UK health charity, the Oral Health Foundation, have long recognised close links between poor oral health and general health and believe that by paying closer attention to our mouth we will be able to better maintain better overall health later in life.
Dr Nigel Carter OBE, CEO of the Oral Health Foundation, said: “The links between oral health and diseases which effect other parts of our body are becoming increasingly apparent with every new piece of research. Studies such as this can be hugely significant in helping us to understand how we can maybe help reduce our risk of developing different diseases and as a result, improve the lives of millions of people in the future.
“The good news is gum disease is an entirely preventable and treatable disease, by ensuring good, consistent, oral health everybody can avoid gum disease and its associated risks. Avoiding gum disease can be as simple as brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, using interdental brushes daily and regular visits to the dentist.”
Treating gum disease can be done by our dental team, who will remove all plaque and tartar from your teeth. We will also show you how to remove plaque successfully yourself.
If you live in or around Dursley, Cam, Stroud or Stonehouse in Gloucestershire and have any concerns about your dental health please contact Castle Gate Dental Practice. Our fully qualified hygienists are only too happy to help provide hygiene care and advice to our existing patients, new patients and emergency patients.
