A new study suggests that using dentures might help protect the brain and slow memory decline in older people who have lost some or all of their teeth. The research, published in Aging Medicine, looked at tens of thousands of older adults in China and found that those who wore dentures had better thinking and memory skills than those who didn’t.
The study was led by Dr. Xiang Qi from the NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. Her team focused on more than 27,000 Chinese adults aged 65 and older. These people were all living independently in their communities and had taken part in a large long-term health survey between 2008 and 2018.
To understand the effects of denture use, the researchers compared people who had lost teeth and used dentures with those who didn’t use them.
They found that among people who still had some natural teeth (called “dentate participants”), those who wore dentures scored better on memory and thinking tests at the start of the study. They also experienced slower mental decline over the years compared to those who didn’t use dentures.
Interestingly, the benefits were still noticeable even in people with only a few teeth left, meaning that denture use seemed helpful across different levels of tooth loss.
For people who had lost all of their teeth (called “edentulous participants”), wearing dentures was linked to better memory and thinking skills at the start of the study—but in this group, wearing dentures didn’t seem to slow down the rate of mental decline over time.
The researchers believe these results highlight the importance of replacing lost teeth, not just for chewing and appearance, but possibly for brain health too. They suggest that wearing dentures could help people eat better, speak clearly, and stay socially active—all of which may support healthy brain function.
However, the researchers caution that this study only shows a link, not proof that dentures directly prevent memory loss. More studies will be needed to find out if dentures truly protect the brain or if there are other reasons behind the connection.
In summary, this large study shows a strong link between denture use and better brain health in older adults with missing teeth. People who used dentures had higher memory scores at the beginning and, in some cases, experienced slower mental decline.
While the study doesn’t prove that dentures can prevent dementia, it raises an important point: taking care of your teeth—and replacing them when needed—could be an important part of staying mentally sharp as you age.
If you care about dementia, please read studies that eating apples and tea could keep dementia at bay, and Olive oil: a daily dose for better brain health.
For more health information, please see recent studies what you eat together may affect your dementia risk, and time-restricted eating: a simple way to fight aging and cancer.
The research findings can be found in Aging Medicine.
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