Good Dental Hygiene Protects Against More than Gum Disease

A report released from the Yale University School of Medicine found that practicing good dental hygiene protects against more than just gum disease.

Respiratory Disease and pneumonia in particular are thought to be caused, at least in part, by breathing in fine droplets from the throat and mouth into the lungs. The amount of bacteria in the mouth directly impacts the severity of the disease. Sufferers are more likely to experience more damaging symptoms and even die from respiratory disease, if they have deep gum pockets that harbor harmful bacteria.

Previous research from Dental Institutes in both the UK and the US has documented evidence that practicing good oral health by brushing teeth for at least two minutes, twice every day, supports overall health in an individual. This finding remains undisputed with the Yale study, considering their findings that the bacterial composition in the mouth changes somewhat prior to the development of the lung condition. This bacterial change had been found in 37 patients using ventilators to treat their pneumonia.

Pneumonia claims the lives of at least 5% of patients who contract the disease. This research is an important finding for sufferers, and individuals with a predisposition to respiratory disease, and may provide a prevention focus for many.