FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida—Dr. Patty, Visionary and Founder Dr. Patty’s Dental Boutique & Spa, praises a recent article in the Washington Post entitled, Take care of your teeth and gums. Oral health can affect your brain. Written by Brain Matters Columnist Richard Sima, the article highlights research and evidence that reveals a possible link between oral health and dementia risk, suggesting that what happens in our mouths affects our brains and could potentially lead to Alzheimer’s Disease.
Sima begins by noting that poor oral hygiene contributes to multiple health challenges, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and early death, before informing readers about sobering statistics concerning periodontal disease. According to a recent 2022 report by the World Health Organization, over 1 billion people worldwide, or about 19 percent of those older than 15, suffer from severe periodontal disease. This chronic inflammation directly affects the gums and bones that support our teeth.
But here’s the interesting part: emerging evidence from observational studies indicates that our oral health could potentially be a modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s. While the subject demands further research, these findings raise crucial questions about the connection between oral hygiene and Alzheimer’s.
“Although numerous factors prevent researchers from concluding there’s a causation between poor oral health and Alzheimer’s, the studies cited in the article demonstrate a clear association,” says Dr. Patty. “In my years of experience as a cosmetic dentist, I’ve seen firsthand that poor oral hygiene increases the risk of multiple health problems for my clients. As the article states, mouth inflammation impacts the brain. If you fail to brush and floss properly for several days, dental plaque with acid-producing bacteria builds up on the edges of your teeth and gums, prompting your immune system to fight these bacteria. This immune system response leads to inflammation of the gums. If we catch gingivitis—the mildest form of gum disease—early, we can reverse it with gum disease treatment and by instructing our clients on the proper ways to floss and brush regularly. If left untreated, gingivitis leads to a more severe gum disease, known as peridontis. At that stage, the whole body joins the fight against the bacteria, putting the immune system under pervasive stress.
“As the article states, ‘chronic inflammation becomes a vicious cycle: more swelling of the gums enlarges the gap between the teeth and gums, allowing more bacteria to enter, which can lead to inflammation of not only the gums but also the underlying bone. Continued unabated, the body will reject the tooth, causing loosening and eventual loss of the tooth.’ This chronic inflammation can expand from the mouth to the rest of the body, and eventually, to neuroinflammaton in the brain that induces neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and Multiple Sclerosis.
“Consequently, one inevitable conclusion we can draw from this article—something we tell all our clients—is that taking care of your teeth and gums is essential to preserving your dental health and overall wellbeing. At Dr. Patty’s Dental Boutique & Spa, we focus on smile makeovers in a luxurious, spa-like setting, where we listen to our clients and their needs, and educate them on the best ways to maintain excellent oral health. I encourage everyone who wants to learn more about oral health and experience anxiety-free dentistry with 5-star client service, to contact us at (954) 524-2300.”
For more information, visit https://drpattydental.com/.
About Dr. Patty’s Dental Boutique & Spa
Dr. Patty’s Dental Boutique & Spa features the latest dental technology in a luxurious, modern, and relaxing setting where fears of the dentist melt away. Dr. April Patterson, affectionately called Dr. Patty by her patients, is a highly skilled cosmetic dentist who received her dental degree and cosmetic dentistry residency at the University of Michigan, named one of the top three dental schools by U.S. News & World Report. She designed her practice to complement her clientele’s lifestyle and busy schedules in a posh, spa-like atmosphere with top-notch dentistry coupled with five-star customer service. Although her practice started small, Dr. Patty’s Dental Boutique & Spa has grown into a leading office for impeccable cosmetic dentistry and a luxury experience in South Florida. The practice was voted #1 Dentist in Fort Lauderdale, FL, by Fort Lauderdale Magazine, and Dr. Patty has received many personal accolades, including a 2021 South Florida Business and Wealth Magazine “Excellence in Healthcare” honoree.
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