Luckily you can help prevent this issue with some simple steps
A neurologist has highlighted an often “overlooked” risk factor for both strokes and dementia. You may not realise that your mouth health is linked to these conditions.
In a video shared on the social media platform TikTok, Dr Baibing Chen, also known as Dr Bing online, emphasised the importance of maintaining good dental hygiene.
Dr Chen said: “ One risk factor for stroke and dementia that people often overlook is dental and gum health and let me explain. Large studies have now shown that people with gum disease, cavities or major tooth loss have higher stroke risk.
“And many of these studies control for things like socioeconomic status, income, or other demographics and risk factors, and the association still held. Now, some people will say, well, of course, because people who take care of their teeth also tend to take care of the rest of their health.
And they may be right. In statistics, we call this residual confounding, where healthy behaviours tend to cluster together, and it is very hard to separate one habit from the rest. So this does not prove that bad teeth directly causes strokes.”
But he said that gum disease can result in inflammation. He continued: “It’s important to know that chronic gum disease can create ongoing inflammation. Inflammation can damage blood vessels, and oral bacteria have been found inside clots that cause strokes.
“And this is why sometimes I check my patient’s teeth during my physical exam. It’s not about judging what their teeth look like, it’s more about understanding their whole health picture.”
He added: “People who see their dentist regularly, people who brush more consistently, and people who protect their gums tend to show lower stroke risk in large studies. Not zero risk, but lower.
“So think of your oral health as part of your brain health. So flossing, water flossing, and brushing is not just protecting your smile and your breath, it may be also quietly protecting your brain.”
A study, published in Neurology journal in 2023, backed Dr Bing’s claims. Study authors wrote: “Among middle age Britons without stroke or dementia, poor oral health was associated with worse neuroimaging brain health profiles.
“Genetic analyses confirmed these associations, supporting a potentially causal association. Because the neuroimaging markers evaluated in this study precede and are established risk factors of stroke and dementia, our results suggest that oral health, an easily modifiable process, may be a promising target for very early interventions focused on improving brain health.”
To keep your teeth healthy, the NHS recommends you:
- Brush your teeth twice a day
- Clean between your teeth
- Cut down on sugar
- Quit smoking
- Limit your alcohol intake
- Have regular dental check-ups
