Regular dental visits ‘can help to prevent pneumonia’

Regular visits to the dentist have been shown to help person reduce their risk of contracting pneumonia.

The Virginia Commonwealth University research analysed data from a US survey assessing healthcare utilisation, costs and patient satisfaction, finding that 441 of the 26,246 people in the database experiencing bacterial pneumonia.

Those who never had dental checkups had an 86 percent higher risk of pneumonia compared to those who had twice-yearly appointments, showing the way in which dental visits can enhance overall health by reducing bacteria levels in the mouth.

Strains that commonly cause pneumonia when inhaled or aspirated into the lungs include streptococcus, haemophilus, staphylococcus and anaerobic bacteria.

Study leader Michelle Doll, assistant professor of internal medicine in the division of infectious disease at Virginia Commonwealth University, said: "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."

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