INTELIHEALTH - Many people believe that losing teeth is a part of growing old. This is a myth. Keeping your natural teeth actually can help you stay healthy.
Researchers studied about 700 Australian adults, ages 45 to 54. They found, perhaps not surprisingly, that people with more teeth could chew better.
But the researchers also found that people who could chew better were healthier and felt better about themselves. Also, people who could chew better had fewer oral health problems.
Another study backs up this research. Scientists studied 321 French people. All were in nursing homes. About 1 in every 4 of these people had no teeth at all. People with no teeth were likely to be 87 years old or older. They also were more likely to have kidney disease or a neurological condition (such as Alzheimer's).
The French researchers found that general health problems put people at risk for losing teeth. Also, people who had lost their teeth had poorer oral health.
Other studies have shown that tooth loss affects general health and can put a person at risk for malnutrition, disability, loss of independence, and decreased quality of life. Not all people who lose teeth will have them replaced. In the French study, 13% of the people with no teeth also had no dentures.
The Australian study appears in the December issue of the journal Quality of Life Research. The French study appears in the December issue of the journal Gerodontology.
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