Regular cleanings of teeth and gums may help prevent pneumonia in nursing home residents.

The results are based on comparing pneumonia rates between residents of 11 nursing homes in Japan who received regular teeth cleanings and those who received no additional oral care.

The researchers found that residents whose teeth were regularly cleaned had fewer cases of pneumonia and were less likely to die from the infection.

Pneumonia is caused by germs that build up in the lungs and block the flow of oxygen to the body. If the mouth is not clean, there are more germs in the mouth and throat, increasing the chances of sparking an infection.

If air and/or material brought into the lungs has lots of germs in it to begin with, it makes it easier for an infection to get started.

However, the oral care administered in this study was quite intense, and perhaps not something to which all nursing home residents would agree. As part of the study, 184 residents were given tooth brushings after every meal and some were swabbed with a bad-tasting antiseptic. In addition, they received professional cleanings once a week from a dentist or dental hygienist.

Some of the 182 residents not assigned to the oral care group brushed their own teeth, and those with dentures had them cleaned regularly, but they did not receive any additional assistance in cleaning their teeth or dentures.

After following the patients for 2 years, the investigators found that residents whose teeth were not given additional dental care were almost twice as likely to get pneumonia. In addition, these residents were twice as likely to die from the infection, relative to those whose teeth were cleaned regularly.

One of the required daily nursing chores in US nursing homes is oral care, but previous studies have shown that this is rarely enforced or done effectively. While ensuring residents receive regular dental care will cost money, the price is significantly less than the costs associated with pneumonia. Although most patients may not like the antiseptic, he said facilities could hire a staff member exclusively charged with brushing residents' teeth.

It is very compelling to have evidence that a common-sense, cheap, anyone-can-do-it intervention -- that is supposed to be done anyway -- could be saving multiple billions of dollars.

The benefits of oral care go beyond simple economics. As important as the cost savings, though, should be the improved odor, taste perception, food enjoyment, and social interaction -- altogether loosely referred to as quality of life -- that occurs when the daily oral care is provided as it should be.

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2002;50:430-433

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

This is not a new observation as I have posted a similar article last year. Dental health is one of the keys to staying healthy. Most dentists, like most physicians, really do not understand the foundation of true health. For a list of dentists that are more likely to understand some of the basics you can use the link on the bottom of my home page. The amazing thing about dental health though, is that if you are raised on a diet free of processed foods, grains and sugars, you will likely avoid dental decay and secondary periodontal problems. The classic illustration of this fact is Dr. Weston Price's book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration. The fact that researchers find that poor dental health is associated with lung disease really is an artifact of the underlying disorder that causes both diseases, eating too many sugars and grains. It is also important to remember that fluoridating the water using toxic waste is NOT going to help anyone achieve optimal oral health. For more information on fluoride, try the Fluoride Action Network's website. Related Articles: Unhealthy Gums Can Lead to Lung Disease Gum Disease Ups Risk of Premature Birth Gum Disease May Boost Stroke Risk The Dangers of Root Canals