Gum Disease and Dementia

New studies have found another link of gum disease to a systemic disease- this time it's dementia. Chronic periodontitis (inflammation of the gums from bacterial infection) has been linked to increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer's. A study in South Korea of 50,000+ people found that those who received a diagnosis of chronic periodontitis have a 6% higher risk of developing dementia than those who didn't have gum disease. The findings doesn't prove periodontitis cause dementia, only that they are linked. A possible explanation is that chronic gum inflammation can promote systemic inflammation, especially in the brain tissue. Or possibly the oral bacteria can pass through the blood-brain area to cause damage to the brain itself. Those dangerous oral bacteria can sure wreck havoc on all parts of your body- heart, brain, fetus (mothers with gum disease are at risk for low term weight babies). Everyone, brush and floss your teeth!  More info here.