That twice-yearly trip to the dentist may decrease the risk of pneumonia by reducing bacteria in the mouth, according to research presented at IDWeek 2016.
Nearly one million Americans become ill with the infection every year and 50,000 die. While it is more common among older people and those with conditions such as AIDS or lung disease, anyone can get pneumonia. Based on an analysis of a national database of more than 26,000 people, the new research found that people who never get dental checkups had an 86% greater risk of pneumonia than those who visit the dentist twice a year.
“There is a well-documented connection between oral health and pneumonia, and dental visits are important in maintaining good oral health,” said Michelle Doll, MD, lead author of the study and assistant professor of internal medicine in the Division of Infectious Disease at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond. “We can never rid the mouth of bacteria altogether, but good oral hygiene can limit the quantities of bacteria present.”
Researchers analyzed data obtained from the 2013 Medical Expediture Panel Survey, which asks about health-care utilization (including dental care), costs, and patient satisfaction. They found 441 of 26,246 people in the database had bacterial pneumonia (1.68%) and that those who never had dental checkups had an 86% increased risk of pneumonia compared to those who had twice-yearly appointments.
Bacteria that commonly cause pneumonia include streptococcus, haemophilus, staphylococcus, and anaerobic bacteria. Routine dental visits may reduce the amount of bacteria that can be aspirated, said Dr. Doll.
“Our study provides further evidence that oral health is linked to overall health, and suggests that it’s important to incorporate dental care into routine preventive healthcare,” said Dr. Doll.
In addition to Dr. Doll, co-authors of the study are Kristen Kelly, MSc; Scott Ratliff, MS and Norman Carroll PharmD.
IDWeek 2016 is the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) and the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS).
