Pneumonia and dental care

Pneumonia is usually the result of a bacterial infection, but can also be caused by a virus or fungus. While anyone can potentially contract pneumonia, it is more common in high risk patients, including the elderly, very young adults, alcoholics, smokers and those with compromised immune systems. For many, the illness passes without incident, but for some – particularly those most at risk – it can result in serious and potentially fatal complications that may require hospitalisation.

Strike anyone

While pneumonia is associated with deprivation, it can strike anyone – billionaire Oprah Winfrey recently joined a long list of celebrities to have contracted the illness. Aspiration pneumonia also contributed to the death of Marvel Comics creator, Stan Lee, in 2018. For many elderly people, aspiration pneumonia can lead to a spiral of worsening health with lethal consequences if left untreated. Numerous studies have established that maintaining oral hygiene and regular dental care is associated with a reduced risk of aspiration pneumonia. Dental plaque acts as a reservoir from which bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, can subsequently infect other tissues, including the respiratory tract. Oral biofilm can harbour a vast multitude of potentially harmful bacteria. The biofilm matrix can shield colonies of bacteria from attempts to remove or kill them.