Most people know that when you don't brush your teeth you put yourself at risk of having plaque buildup or getting a cavity. But there is a new risk that scientists have just discovered when you don't brush your teeth regularly. Not removing the plaque from your teeth on a regular basis it seems could be putting you at risk of catching pneumonia according to a new study.
The Infectious Diseases Society of America recently held their annual meeting in Boston where Samit Joshi, a postdoctoral fellow at Yale University School of Medicine, presented his study on this matter. He discovered in his research that changes in the types of oral bacteria that people have in their mouths could put them at risk for developing pneumonia. One of the most common risks discovered in Joshi's research was poor oral hygiene. Joshi even stated that the risk of pneumonia could double for those who have severe gum diseases.
In the study conducted by Joshi, thirty seven patients' oral health was analyzed. The researchers made sure that the patients came from a variety of backgrounds and ages, with varying levels of health backgrounds. The subjects were looked at over a period of one month. What the research data showed was that not very many of the patients actually acquired pneumonia, but those who did had an increase in the number of oral bacteria that are now being associated with pneumonia.