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 ...
Oh, I know. Mom always used to say "brush your teeth or I'll kill you."
I think so, too.
And eye care, and glasses.
And pedicures.
And massages. (Theraputic, of course.)
Don't remember exactly, but I believe that was the gist of it.
Author of: "Don't Bend Over In the Garden, Granny. Them 'Taters Got Eyes", among others.
A new jingle:
Brush your teeth twice a day,
Brushing keeps pneumonia away.
Exactly. The single best way to prevent gingivitis is not through brushing, but through flossing.
I started flossing fifteen years ago, and is one of the single best things I've ever done for myself. No gum problems, and I've not had the flu in that entire fifteen years either.
Not saying there's a connection, but the human mouth has more germs and bacteria than a dog's mouth.
Various seniors in our families have noted a real improvement in their general health since getting dentures.
|
And people gag when I tell'em I kiss my cat...
Gotta print this out for Ben Jr.
He thinks grimy teeth are a fashion statement.
Unfortunately, things went haywire at the office while I was gone, so the good feeling didn't last long.
Gum disease can also cause heart valve damage.
I'm really glad for them--just plain feeling better, and eating better too, I'd bet.
A local cardologist demands that his patients take a prescribed antibiotic one hour before having their teeth cleaned. He spoke of a possible link between plaque and infection of the heart valves. Anyway, teeth cleaning is not benign or risk free.
I believe this is true...but is there ANYTHING that doesn't kill you anymore?
Let's just cut to the chase and agree that life, itself, is fatal.
Oh, yeah :) As long as they fit properly, though. We've had a few family members who've had real problems getting dentures that fit well. Just another reason to take good care of one's choppers :)
FWIW, I met a man a couple of weeks ago who insists that he has NEVER brushed his teeth even once in his life. His teeth and breath seemed fine (from a distance, mind you!), and he is over 60 yrs. old, married to a beautiful M.D. wife, and has every tooth intact, to this day.
Go figure.
The acid in a dog's mouth kills the bacteria. Cat mouths are different:
Cat-Scratch/Bite Disease
What is cat-scratch/bite disease, and how do people get it?
Cat-scratch/bite disease is an infection caused by bacteria (germs) carried in cat saliva.
The bacteria can be passed from a cat to a human. Doctors and researchers think cats may get the bacteria from fleas, although this hasn't been proved.
You can get cat-scratch disease from a cat bite or cat scratch. You can get the infection after a cat scratches you if the cat's paws have the bacteria on them. (A cat can get the bacteria on its paws when it licks itself.) With a cat bite, the cat can pass the bacteria to you in its saliva. You can also get the bacteria in your eyes if you pet a cat that has the bacteria on its fur and then rub your eyes. Many people who get cat-scratch disease do not remember being scratched or bitten by a cat.
Cat-scratch disease is not a severe illness in people who are healthy. But it can be a problem in people with weak immune systems. People with weak immune systems include those who are receiving chemotherapy for cancer, those who have diabetes or those who have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Well, I wouldn't do that, but if you have a diet that doesn't contain a lot of sugars and carbs that would help you avoid decay problems longer. Maybe he watches what he eats.
And Water Pikking too -
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.