Studies in the US show that people with bleeding and receding gums have worse mental function than those with healthier gums. The researchers think the general inflammation caused by gum disease may harm the brain, although this study, done at a single point in time, couldn't prove a lasting effect.
Older people are more likely to have memory and speech problems if their gums are in poor condition, said Dr Stewart of the Institute of Psychiatry in London. It isn't known whether the same link exists in younger people, or whether other factors such as heart disease or high blood pressure play a part.
The researchers studied data from 5,138 people aged 20 to 59 who took two language tests and 1,555 people over 70 whose mental function was tested. After allowing for age, they found that mental function declined with bleeding gums and loose or lost teeth.
There are several possible explanations. The most likely is general inflammation affecting the whole body, one of whose effects is a loss of mental function; poor teeth may also lead to poor nutrition, which affects the brain. Because the link didn't depend on age, the researchers concluded that "age-related memory loss is not responsible for poor teeth".
The study was published in Psychosomatic Medicine in October 2008.
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