According to a study, if the teeth are not cleaned properly, they can play a role in causing pneumonia. Unclean dentures provide a new surface where disease-causing germs can settle. Researchers from Cardiff University, UK, said that people who wear dentures may draw saliva containing harmful microbes into their lungs, where the infection can spread.
In the study, they took mouth, tongue and denture swabs from a group of patients in the hospital who had pneumonia and wore dentures. They then compared this to samples taken from patients wearing dentures in care homes who did not have pneumonia.
They then analyzed the samples to identify the abundance and types of microbes present in the samples. “We expected to see a difference, but were surprised to find 20 times the number of potentially pneumonia-causing bacteria on their teeth compared to those without pneumonia,” said lead author Dr Josh Twigg from the university.
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While the study published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology identifies a possible link, Dr Twigg stresses: “You certainly wouldn’t say that people got pneumonia because they were wearing dentures. It just showed has been that there is a connection. This research is an initial step toward solving the puzzle of what exactly is the sequence of events.”
According to Dr. Twigg, although more research needs to be done, the public can learn from the findings. “Our research has shown that potentially harmful microbial communities are present on dentures. It is important to clean dentures thoroughly,” he added.
By visiting the dentist for regular checkups and learning about the best way to care for their teeth, Dr Twigg hopes more people will avoid the need to wear dentures altogether.