Oral health and brain function: Aging Experts Reveal the Danger of Ignoring Your Teeth as You Age

(Aging Untold) — Did you know that oral hygiene isn’t just cosmetic? It could be one of the most overlooked tools in protecting your heart and brain.

In this episode of The Aging Untold Podcast, our experts break down the critical connection between poor dental health, chronic inflammation, cognitive decline, and cardiovascular disease.

Plus, learn practical caregiver strategies for helping loved ones with dementia brush their teeth, caring for dentures, and navigating dental care costs when Medicare doesn’t cover it.

Dental care ‘really isn’t cosmetic’

“When you’re looking at dental care, it really isn’t cosmetic,” Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician and host of Aging Untold, said. “It’s infection prevention, it is inflammation control, and it’s actually protective against the heart and the brain.”

Rogers said poor oral hygiene can lead to gum disease, which allows bacteria to enter the bloodstream and cause chronic inflammation and damage blood vessels, affecting the heart, brain and lungs.

It can also interfere with blood sugar control and increase stroke risk by making blood stickier.

Rogers said a bacterium, P. gingivalis, has been found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease, and while researchers cannot say gum disease directly causes dementia, a correlation exists.

“Oral health is brain health,” aging well coach and Aging Untold co-host Katherine Ambrose said. “The mouth is not separate from the brain. It’s completely connected. And it’s one of the most overlooked dementia prevention tools.”

Tips for caregivers of people with dementia

Gerontologist and Aging Untold co-host Sam Cradduck said caregivers who struggle to get a person with dementia to brush their teeth can try mimicking the behavior, brushing their own teeth alongside the person or bringing a toothbrush to them. Do it when they are calm, she urged.

Cradduck said even a brief brushing session is more beneficial than skipping it entirely for someone with cognitive impairment.

“And 30 seconds is going to be much better than nothing at all,” she said.

Cradduck also noted that dental health affects nutrition. Mouth pain or toothaches can prevent older adults from eating properly, which can affect overall health and independence.

“This is the difference between staying at home and going to the hospital, oftentimes,” Cradduck said.

Rogers recommended doing what you can to stop inflammation: get good sleep, avoid highly processed foods, manage stress.

“All those different things can help to reduce inflammation while you’re working on preventing it from the standpoint of keeping good oral hygiene,” Rogers said.

Denture wearers still need dental care

Cradduck said a common misconception is that people with dentures no longer need to see a dentist.

“You still have gums, you still have a mouth, and you still have a tongue, and you still need to eat,” Cradduck said.

Pressure sores under dentures can develop, Cradduck said, and people who have dentures should continue visiting a dentist or, at minimum, brush their gums and care for the inside of their mouth.

Finding affordable dental care

Aging expert and Aging Untold co-host Amy O’Rourke said cost can be a barrier for many families, noting that Medicare does not cover dental care.

The hosts suggested looking into payment plans with dentists, dental schools and university clinics and local departments that serve seniors.

O’Rourke said caregivers who can only afford one or two dental visits per year should ask their dentist whatadditionalsteps they can take between appointments.