Dementia

A girl supporting an old lady to make her walk.

About Dementia

Dementia is not a specific disease. It refers to a person's inability to think and speak clearly and because of this, his daily activities are affected.
Dementia causes continuous loss in problem-solving and thinking skills, memory loss and language skills; Dementia mostly results in Alzheimer's disease.

Causes
Unusual changes in the brain cause dementia. These changes stimulate a deterioration in thinking skills, also called as cognitive abilities, more enough to impair daily life and independent function. They can also affect behaviour, feelings and relationships.

Dementia -Dental Connect

A study done on older people in Japan about the onset of dementia discovered that participants with less number of teeth had a significant chance of developing this condition.
It found that participants lesser (1-9 teeth) had an 81% higher risk of dementia compared to participants with 20 teeth or more.
Although this study hasn't directly concluded that tooth loss is a reason for dementia, still, it has established a link between tooth loss and dementia.
One possible learning from that study is that if you don't have good dentition, you cannot eat a balanced diet, which might lead to chronic conditions like dementia in old age.

Dementia -Lifestyle, Oral health and more

Lifestyle challenges of Dementia

Sudden changes in mood and abnormal behaviour changes
Difficulty in walking or swallowing
Memory loss and cognitive thinking
Inability to speak correctly or hold conversations
Unable to recognise people, places, and time
Disorientation and general confusion

Lifestyle Changes Required

Though there are no treatments to cure Dementia, specific lifestyle changes are shown to delay the onsetting of Dementia

Maintain oral hygiene to avoid tooth loss.
Eat plenty of raw leafy greens, darker greens, such as spinach, kale and romaine, as they have more brain-boosting antioxidants. Also includes a lot of fish, nuts and beans to complement your health.
It is critical to understand how dental hygiene is playing a vital role in maintaining your blood pressure and healthy weight.
exercise regularly,

Oral health tips to avoid Dementia

Maintaining good dental health habits, such as brushing and flossing daily, is the best way to avoid tooth loss.
Also, visit your Dentist immediately whenever you experience tooth pain or other dental problems or make it a habit of visiting your Dentist for six months once.

Dental symptoms when you should contact the Doctor

Swollen or puffy gums.
Gums that bleed easily.
Permanent Loss of a tooth
Gums that feel tender when touched.
Bright red, dusky red or purplish gums.
Aged 35-44

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