Prone to Pneumonia? Could be a dental problem

Researchers are increasingly discovering new ways that the health of your mouth affects the health of the rest of your body. And they’ve found that one poor habit you should avoid can double your risk of pneumonia.

Previously, a wide-range of studies have shown that the health of your teeth and gums are directly related to your heart health. If you suffer from gum disease, this research shows, your heart and arteries can be endangered by the microbes that accumulate in your mouth.

And now they find that similar mechanisms can threaten your lungs.

As you age, having poor oral health and not taking care of your teeth and gums properly creates a major danger for pneumonia. This may create particular problems if you wear false teeth.

A study at the Nihon University School of Dentistry, Japan, shows that wearing your dentures while you sleep can double your risk of pneumonia if you are in your late 80s. The research, which involved more than 500 people, shows that taking out your dentures at night lowers this pneumonia risk.

The scientists found that wearing dentures while you sleep is also linked to having more plaque on the tongue and dentures, inflammation of the gums, growth of Candida albicans (which can be potentially deadly if it gets in your bloodsteam) in the mouth and throat, and higher blood levels of interleukin-6 (a sign of inflammation).

The people in the study who had problems swallowing also ran an increased chance of pneumonia.