Dentist reveals early Alzheimer's sign that is spotted in a person's mouth

A dentist has revealed that a person's oral hygiene could be an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease.

Doctor Smita, principal dentist at The Neem Tree Dental Practice, said that oral hygiene could be an early warning sign that someone could be suffering from a form of dementia.

The expert said: "Some initial signs of an Alzheimer's patient will be a mouth that is poorly taken care of. Usually - but not always - this will be an elderly patient who is seemingly neglecting their oral care."

Other official sources have confirmed that people suffering from dementia tend to neglect personal hygiene and care, reports the Mirror.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers neglect of personal hygiene and care as one of the top 10 early warning signs of Alzheimer's disease.

Dr Smita warned that an excessive amount of plaque and tartar - as well as swollen or bleeding gums and cavities - are warning signs of neglect and poor dental health. She added: "These will be either visible to us as dentists, or evident from the patient complaining of pain upon touching or blowing air onto teeth."

The dentist also noted that a person's entire appearance is crucial when it comes to diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. She said: "Simply put, these are the signs of neglect. As dentists, we wouldn’t be isolating and identifying bacteria i.e. Porphyromonas gingivalis which have been linked with this disease. We would leave that to the scientists."

Currently, there is evidence supporting that a specific form of bacteria - porphyromonas gingivalis - being present in cavities is a really strong connection between Alzheimer's patients and periodontal disease.

According to a study from 2020, this bacteria is also heavily associated with rheumatoid arthritis and those suffering from Alzheimer's.

Dr Smita noted that people can avoid this bacteria from growing by regularly visiting the dentists and having a strict oral hygiene routine. She said: "Patients should regularly see their dentists for check-ups and hygiene visits, to stay on top of treatments and avoid any worsening of the condition by reducing the bacterial count."

The expert also urged people who have family members or friends with Alzheimer's disease to accompany them on dentist visits in order to be able to spot any poor oral hygiene signs.

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