How Oral Health Can Affect Lungs

 

We all know what can happen to our teeth and gums when we don’t take good care of our oral health: cavities, root canals, gum disease and worse. But what many people don’t realize is that our oral health doesn’t just affect our teeth and gums - it affects our entire body.

In fact, a new study in the American Society for Microbiology journal mSphere took a closer look at the link between poor oral health and another area of the body: the lungs. The results were startling. The problem starts with something in our mouths called "microflora." And while the name microflora may sound pretty and cute, the microflora in our mouths are anything but.

Microflora is the name used to describe tiny bacteria and fungi that are found throughout the body, including inside of the mouth. These microflora can cause a great deal of harm to the mouth, but scientists are now finding that in addition to being dangerous to your mouth, they can also be dangerous to the rest of the body, too.

During the study, which was conducted at Japan’s Kyushu University, scientists looked at microflora removed from the mouths of elderly volunteers - some of whom were missing teeth. What they found when they looked closely were strains of bacteria known as Prevotella histicola, Veillonella atypica, Streptococcus salivarius, and Streptococcus parasanguinis – all associated with fatal cases of pneumonia, especially among seniors with poor oral hygiene.

So, how does that oral microflora cause pneumonia? Researchers believe that the microflora are aspirated into the lungs as we cough and breath, causing infection and inflammation - and pneumonia. This is just one more reason to take excellent care of your oral hygiene - because it could save your life.

Start your journey toward better oral health by calling Dr. Lederman today at 516-882-1764.

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