Posted on 11/30/2004 12:49:10 PM PST by Jimmyclyde
Dirty Teeth Can Kill You, U.S. Study Shows
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Germs found in dental plaque can make their way into the lungs and cause potentially fatal pneumonia in elderly nursing home patients, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.
Though the study was small, the researchers said they found clear evidence in eight patients who developed pneumonia while in the hospital that had originated from their own dental plaque.
"This is the first study to establish unequivocally a link between dental hygiene and respiratory infection," said Dr. Ali El-Solh of the University at Buffalo in New York, who led the study.
Writing in the latest issue of the journal Chest, El-Solh and colleagues said they tested 49 nursing home residents who were admitted to a nearby hospital with a high risk of pneumonia. They made molecular fingerprints of the bacteria found in each patient's mouth before he or she developed pneumonia.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.netscape.cnn.com ...
Dirty Teeth Can Kill You, U.S. Study Shows
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Germs found in dental plaque can make their way into the lungs and cause potentially fatal pneumonia in elderly nursing home patients, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.
Though the study was small, the researchers said they found clear evidence in eight patients who developed pneumonia while in the hospital that had originated from their own dental plaque.
"This is the first study to establish unequivocally a link between dental hygiene and respiratory infection," said Dr. Ali El-Solh of the University at Buffalo in New York, who led the study.
Writing in the latest issue of the journal Chest, El-Solh and colleagues said they tested 49 nursing home residents who were admitted to a nearby hospital with a high risk of pneumonia. They made molecular fingerprints of the bacteria found in each patient's mouth before he or she developed pneumonia.
Of the 49 patients, 28 had germs known to cause respiratory disease in their dental plaque samples and 21 did not.
The patients were watched closely for pneumonia. The researchers said 14 eventually developed pneumonia and 10 of them had started out with respiratory disease-causing germs in their teeth.
Tests of germs from the lungs showed the DNA matched the DNA of plaque germs in eight of the patients -- more than half.
"These findings indicate that dental plaque is a reservoir of respiratory pathogens that can cause pneumonia in hospitalized institutionalized elders," said El-Solh.
Nursing homes need to help patients maintain clean teeth and dentures, he added.
LOL. I really do think that dental care should be rolled into healthcare coverage, though. I am sure someone will have a good reason why not, but I just think it makes sense.
LOL. I really do think that dental care should be rolled into healthcare coverage, though. I am sure someone will have a good reason why not, but I just think it makes sense.
We sent him to the kitty dentist who pulled all his molars. Now he has to gum his vittles, but he is a much healthier, happier cat. He was even chasing the youngest kitten around the house yesterday . . .
I can believe this. According to my dentist and some cardiologists I've spoken to there's also a link between bad dental hygiene and heart attacks. Good dental hygiene is important for more reasons that one apparently :)
Well, this just bites.
I think there's also evidence that bacteria found in the mouth plays a minor role in contributing to artery blockages. Here's yet another reason to brush your teeth!
LOL! But only if you brush your teeth :)
These patients are likely bed-ridden; they are in no way representative of the population as a whole.
Unaffordable.
Gingivitis has been clearly shown to lead to heart disease in numerous studies.
Didn't they say something like this caused heart attacks back in the 90's?
O.J. had/has dirty teeth.
This makes sense of course, clean behavior is healthy behavior.
So THAT'S what killed Arafart....
Floss.
Yes, it doesn't make sense that dental care (and vision care too) is not part of healthcare coverage.
At the last tooth thread, I remember posting that there is a statistical link between having dentures and living 3 years longer.
This looks like the reason...
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