Will You Get Dementia If You Don’t Replace Missing Teeth?

Many pieces of research and studies have found a link between missing teeth and developing a medical condition called dementia. The more teeth one has, the less is one is going to develop any degenerative diseases.

Nowadays, the most common cause of tooth loss in adults is chronic gum disease or periodontitis. In this disease, the supportive structures surrounding the tooth are destroyed and it causes the tooth to become loose or fall out and sometimes they require extraction. According to the latest information from CDC, about one in six American people above the age of 60 suffer from tooth loss and some have complete tooth loss, which not only affects one appearance but their speech, chewing, and even cause several digestive issues.

Tooth Loss Can Cause Dementia?

More than 5 million of the population in America over the age of 65 suffer from dementia. Dementia comes in many forms and the most common type is Alzheimer’s disease that can cause symptoms like brain deterioration, and problems with thinking, memory, and decision-making. Several risk factors that are also known to trigger dementia are increasing age, hereditary factors, ethnicity, any head injury, traumas, tobacco consumption, and high cholesterol. Many researchers have also suggested that tooth loss can be one of the major risk factors for triggering dementia and adults with more tooth loss are 1.28 times more at risk of developing dementia and cognitive impairment.

Tooth Loss Affect Chewing & Cause Malnutrition

Many medical experts conclude the fact that tooth loss causes impairments in the chewing mechanism that often lead to malnutrition. To prevent the consequences one can opt for prosthetic alternatives like dental implants to replace their missing teeth. Dental implants are one of the best options for replacing missing teeth compared to dentures because they are implanted into the jaw bone, and they preserve the bone and offer a permanent solution to tooth loss concern, and help restore the chewing function.

Missing Tooth Can Affect Other Teeth Health

One must make a note that if one has lost even a single tooth, neglecting to replace it can also put a strain on the surrounding teeth and other teeth will have to do more work while biting and chewing. They will be more likely to shift in the mouth and the health of the other teeth will decrease. Over time, one can also suffer from additional tooth loss.

The chewing process affects the brain and people who suffer from tooth loss are unable to chew and this affects the things (nutritional level) that the brain needs to stay alert, functional, and healthy. 

What to Do to Prevent Tooth Loss from Happening in the First Place?

To protect against the impact of tooth loss is to stop this from happening and engage in proper oral hygiene.

The following measures can help prevent the loss of tooth:

• Brushing for at least 2 minutes in the morning and evening before bed. This helps prevent tartar or plaque build-up and prevents tooth decay.

• Flossing must be done to remove troublesome food from between teeth, as the leftover food can lead to decay the longer it stays there.

• One must avoid soft sugary drinks, candies, and sodas as they are major culprits that cause tooth decay.

• It is important to go for a professional dental cleaning at least twice a year.

• Consult a dental expert immediately if one is suffering from any dental issues. They will examine the patient’s mouth. Moreover, the dentist can diagnose or detect oral health issues and can help prevent the worsening of the concern.

• It is also important that one must eat healthy food, practice excellent oral hygiene on a daily basis that lowers the chances of losing teeth.

Missing teeth can lead to memory loss, brain degeneration, and dementia. To avoid such symptoms, one can consider getting implants to replace their missing tooth/teeth at Eon Clinics.

Eon Clinics offers the best tooth-replacement option dental implants that can help restore one’s smile and eliminate the risk of developing additional oral health issues or other health problems later in life.

Dental Implants for Missing Tooth/Teeth at Eon Clinics:

As many patients are diagnosed with dementia each year, it’s essential to take the opportunity to improve oral health and reduce the risk of tooth loss.

Tooth loss not only affects the appearance but can result in problems in spatial memory.  Impaired chewing functions can cause memory functions that can be reversed if one gets teeth implants at the initial phase just after tooth loss. Healthy chewing strengthens the sensory input on the body, which is vital for brain alertness.

Implants are an effective dental restoration solution in which an artificial root is surgically placed in the jaw bone and gum area. After the adhesion, the implant surgeon attaches a dental crown that resembles a natural tooth. To know more if one is an ideal candidate for the implants one can schedule a free consultation with the dental experts at Eon Clinics.

If considering a teeth implant, here are some of the other benefits outlined offered by implants:

• They preserve natural face contour and restore a smile- When there is loss of one or more teeth, the face sags and appears sunken. Moreover, the gaps in between the teeth, make the smile aesthetically unpleasant. Implants can maintain the natural shape of the face and smile.
• They can last for a lifetime- Teeth implants can last for the long term when properly placed and cared for.
• They are strong and stable- These implants get fixed into the natural jawbone and leave no chance of bone deterioration or slippage and breakage. They prevent bone loss by stimulating natural bone growth. The titanium metal is highly durable and the replacement tooth feels, looks, fits, and functions just like a natural tooth.
• They are the most predictable solution- proved to provide reliable, long-term successful outcomes and more predictable results as compared to any other repair and restoration methods. 

To lower the chances of getting dementia than replacing it with implants is one of the worthy options to prevent future consequences caused by tooth loss. For more information about dental implants and their benefits and link between dementia and tooth loss, pay a visit today at Eon Clinics.