Research carried out in the US has pointed to a link between good oral health and improved cognition in older people.
Scientists from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York noted a link between inflammation caused throughout the body – such as might be a symptom of poor oral health – and a loss of mental function.
Therefore, the study claimed that by keeping teeth healthy, people could remain alert and lively for longer.
Study leader Dr James Noble commented: "Although results presented here are preliminary and inconclusive, a growing body of evidence supports exploration of a possible association between poor oral health and incident dementia."
Elsewhere, the Daily Mail recently reported that a study carried out by Oral B has shown bad teeth can age a person by up to 13 years.
It noted that discoloured teeth could add years to a person’s appearance and therefore, teeth whitening could be of interest to anyone with stained or old-looking teeth.