Dementia and Oral Health: What You Need to Know

Dementia is a complex condition that affects over 733,000 people in Canada. It is caused by a decline in a person’s cognitive abilities and can severely impact their memory, behaviour, language and reasoning. While many people recognize that dementia can affect the brain’s ability to function, what is not so commonly known is that it … Read more

Things To Remember When Providing Dental Care For People With Dementia

People living with dementia—and those taking care of their needs—are bound to face a lot of challenges as the condition progresses. Dementia affects the behavior, thinking, and memory of those diagnosed with it. Their reasoning and memory skills decline over time. People with dementia will tend to forget things, even something as basic and important … Read more

Gum Health Could be a Risk Factor for Dementia, Study Suggests

Anyone who has had gum disease is probably familiar with the discomfort and embarrassment of poor oral health, such as bad breath, bleeding, discolored teeth and even tooth loss. But gum disease, especially the more advanced type known as periodontal disease, can affect far more than our mouths. Periodontal disease is associated with a wide … Read more

Taiwanese Seniors Advised to Chew to Prevent Dementia

The elderly are advised to maintain their chewing ability as a way to prevent dementia, an idea proposed a few years ago that was promoted at a press event in Taiwan on Wednesday (Jan. 15). The Taiwan Advanced Cultural Association (TACA) joined Mars Taiwan in holding an event to raise public awareness on the importance of oral … Read more

Dirty Mouths Lead to Broken Hearts

From Science Daily – May 5, 2011 Nurses who care for patients with dementia now have a tailored approach to dental hygiene for their charges, thanks to a pilot study by a team of nurses. “Poor oral health can lead to pneumonia and cardiovascular disease as well as periodontal disease,” said Rita A. Jablonski, even … Read more

For some reason I can’t remember the title of this blog entry

It is common knowledge that as the average life span becomes longer, dementia becomes more common.  Swedish scientist Laura Fratiglioni has shown that everyone can minimize his or her risk of being affected. Factors from blood pressure and weight to the degree of physical and mental activity can influence cognitive functioning as one gets older. The … Read more