A study conducted by epidemiologists at Harvard University revealed a benefit of the habit of brushing teeth: the reduction of pneumonia risk, especially in hospitalized patients. The study, published in JAMA Network, showed that daily dental brushing decreases the chances of developing hospital-acquired pneumonia by 33%. Additionally, participants who brushed their teeth at least twice a day had a 19% lower likelihood of dying in the Intensive Care Unit and left it more quickly.
The dentist, periodontist, and Clinical Director of IOS – Instituto Odontológico, Dr. Marlei Bonella commented on the results: “Oral hygiene goes beyond preventing cavities; it can literally save lives,” she said.
According to her, frequent brushing reduces the amount of bacteria in the mouth. Lack of brushing causes various problems, starting with the accumulation of bacterial plaque on the teeth, causing gum inflammation, bleeding, and pain. “Bleeding occurs because the gum is inflamed. Once the bacterial plaque contains bacteria (which, in turn, release harmful toxins), it irritates your gums when not removed, leading to inflammation. And when you do not undergo periodontal treatment (which is the scaling of teeth and prophylaxis, or the so-called cleaning), gum inflammation can progress to the bone that supports and protects the teeth,” she explains.
This inflammation can cause severe bone loss, leading to tooth loss, or in many cases, the bacteria on the surface of the teeth and in dental calculus can penetrate the bloodstream through the inflamed gums and cause diseases such as myocardial infarction and diabetes, or the bacteria present in the mouth can be aspirated into the lungs and cause pneumonia.
In the case of the research, it was found that a lung infection can occur after two or more days of hospitalization in weakened patients, and also that in patients requiring mechanical ventilation, a higher risk of developing pneumonia was noted, and tooth brushing was associated with a reduction of almost 70% in this risk. “In other words, oral hygiene prevents and helps to inhibit the proliferation of these bacteria; it is a preventive measure that can avoid serious complications,” emphasizes the dentist.
Marlei also highlights that taking care of teeth not only prevents pneumonia but also various diseases: “Oral health is related to the prevention of heart diseases, diabetes, respiration (good chewing), and even depression,” she says.
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