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When you think about parts of your body that are interconnected more closely than others, your mouth and respiratory tract are one example. Not only does your oral anatomy affect things like sleeping disordered breathing, the presence of bacteria inside of your mouth can pose an inhalation risk where respiratory tract infections may arise.
Asthma, pneumonia, acute bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are each linked to gum disease. Some literature suggests that as many as 60% of people with respiratory disease owe their condition to a periodontal infection.
There’s limited research that suggests more aggressive gum disease can contribute to ventilator-associated pneumonia in individuals receiving intubation during medical care.
Given the onset of COVID-19 infections worldwide, similar research studies have found a significantly high rate of people with periodontal disease requiring a ventilator during hospitalization from COVID-19. The presence of periodontitis co-existing with COVID-19 it turns out, is also linked to a higher mortality rate.
Eliminating dental bacteria prevents the risk of plaque directly entering into your airway. And as a result, the risk of developing a respiratory infection such as pneumonia can be reduced.
Experts suggest that periodontal treatments should be a top priority for individuals at risk for respiratory illnesses. By alleviating the bacterial load inside of the mouth — and lowering inflammation inside of the body — you can limit the amount of dental plaque spreading into the upper airway and lungs.
If you have active gum inflammation, bleeding, and visible plaque buildup, work with your dental provider to establish a periodontal care plan to eliminate the oral infection. Especially if you’re someone who already has asthma, or another known respiratory disease. Being proactive about your oral health can lessen your chances of bacteria spreading from your mouth and into your respiratory tract.
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