OCTOBER 2009

The next time you open wide for the dentist, the state of your teeth and gums may also say something about your brain. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced a $1.3 million study to investigate connections between older people’s oral health and their mental functioning. Researchers will examine several large existing data sets from previous studies to see how oral health affects cognitive function—and vice versa—over time.

Prior research has established a solid link between conditions inside your mouth and your risk for heart disease, and even associated oral health with diabetes risk. But little attention has been paid to whether the health of your teeth and gums might relate to your mental function as you age. One West Virginia University study, still ongoing, did report a connection between poor oral health and reduced brain function among seniors.

Richard Crout, MD, an investigator on that study who will also be involved in the NIH project, commented, “We are hopeful to have more evidence to support the tenet that oral health is also important for cognitive health, and to increase our understanding of determinants of oral health among older adults.”

In the meantime, brush your teeth.