Brushing your teeth twice a day is important not only for the health of your teeth, but also for your lungs!
New studies show the bacteria that cause periodontal disease can reach the lungs. Thus, respiratory infections, bronchitis, pneumonia or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can occur, all of which are serious conditions that can lead to death.
How bacteria get from the mouth to the lungs
The oral cavity is home to many bacteria. Of these, the most aggressive are bacteria from the periodontal disease sphere, which can be sucked into the airways.
They cause an exaggerated reaction of the inflammatory process that leads to the destruction of the connective tissue and the appearance of pulmonary emphysema, a frequent condition in the respiratory sphere.
“By aspiration of these bacteria into the respiratory tract, various complications can occur, such as pneumonia. In addition, periodontal disease has a close causal relationship with cardiovascular diseases – atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction – and diabetes”, explains dentist Sorina Stroe.
The risk is higher especially for people with low immunity, who are prone to respiratory infections and the bacterial load is high, thus overwhelming the host.
In conclusion, the better the oral hygiene, the lower the risk of respiratory infections and related complications. In this sense, we must remember how important it is to brush the teeth twice a day, use mouthwash and dental floss, but also the periodic dental consultation, once every 6 months, for scaling and necessary dental work.