Alzheimer’s disease is a fairly prevalent condition with approximately 5.4 million Americans suffering from the disease. The progressive condition significantly diminishes a person’s quality of life in all aspects. However, there is one area that is often overlooked—dental health. There is a direct link between Alzheimer’s disease and poor oral health. In addition to periodontal disease potentially causing Alzheimer’s due to bacteria entering the brain, the condition itself leads to decreased oral health as a result of losing the ability to care of one’s self. As a Putnam dentist, we understand how difficult life becomes when living with Alzheimer’s. We want to make the diagnosis a bit easier with information you need to protect oral health so there is one less thing to worry about.
(more…)