I recently read an article that said that people who brush their teeth three times a day are 22% less likely to suffer from dementia. This Bathroom Habit Makes Your Dementia Risk Soar, Study Says (msn.com)  This brought about a memory for me and a slight doubt that the article is correct in its assumption that teeth brushing is the issue. The lack of oxygen to the gums can also cause an increase in periodontal disease. I had problems with periodontal disease when I smoked which my dental hygienist said was due to a lack of oxygen to the gums.

I am inclined to accept this explanation because since I have gone on supplemental oxygen my gum disease has vanished. I am not saying that brushing and flossing are not important, I am just pointing to another reason periodontal disease may be present.

If this hypothesis proves to be true, then one might also point to the lack of oxygen as a cause for dementia.

“Porphyromonas gingivalis is the most common culprit of gum disease. In fact, a recent study suggests that plaques of beta-amyloid protein, a major hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, may be produced as a response to this infection,” explains the National Institute on Aging (NIA). By failing to brush regularly, bacteria in the mouth can lead to periodontal disease, which, in turn, may be associated with a higher dementia risk.

The build up of protein in the brain is absolutely given as a cause for dementia. Damage to nerve cells is also given as a cause. We know that lack of oxygen can cause damage to nerve cells and cells in the brain which are also nerve cells.

The thing that points to a failure in my hypothesis is that the brain shuts down body functions to keep the brain alive. During episodes of tachycardia, I have experienced ice-cold feet and hands because the body was shutting down blood supply to non-vital organs.

I am mainly writing this to get us to think when we read such articles especially when conclusions are drawn without direct evidence. The article very well may present truths but show us the research that proves it.

#dementia #supplementaloxygen #oxygen360