銀行◆英文題庫下載題庫

    Brushing your teeth at least once a day is a good idea for many reasons, but you may be surprised to know that brushing your teeth may even prevent mental illness. A U.S. study indicates that people who keep their teeth and gums healthy with regular brushing may have a lower risk of developing dementia later in life. Researchers at the University of California who followed nearly 5,500 elderly people from 1992 to 2010 found that those who reported brushing their teeth less than once a day were up to 65 percent more likely to develop dementia than those who brushed daily.

    According to Annlia Paganini-Hill, who led the study, people’s oral health habits influence whether or not they get dementia. It is found that people with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, have more gum disease-related bacteria in their brains than a person without Alzheimer’s. And it’s thought that gum disease bacteria might get into the brain, causing swelling and brain damage.

    However, the study wasn’t perfect— the researchers didn’t do any actual dental exams, and other factors like poor nutrition could have led to both tooth loss and an increased risk of dementia. Amber Watts, a dementia expert says, “I would be reluctant to draw the conclusion that brushing your teeth would definitely prevent you from getting Alzheimer’s disease.”